diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 46306c9d073e..1d18170d1f15 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -8211,7 +8211,7 @@ nfs4_state_shutdown_net(struct net *net)
 	struct nfsd_net *nn = net_generic(net, nfsd_net_id);
 
 	unregister_shrinker(&nn->nfsd_client_shrinker);
-	cancel_work(&nn->nfsd_shrinker_work);
+	cancel_work_sync(&nn->nfsd_shrinker_work);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&nn->laundromat_work);
 	locks_end_grace(&nn->nfsd4_manager);