diff --git a/net/core/dst.c b/net/core/dst.c
index 6192f11beec907..13ba4a090c410e 100644
--- a/net/core/dst.c
+++ b/net/core/dst.c
@@ -469,6 +469,20 @@ static int dst_dev_event(struct notifier_block *this, unsigned long event,
 		spin_lock_bh(&dst_garbage.lock);
 		dst = dst_garbage.list;
 		dst_garbage.list = NULL;
+		/* The code in dst_ifdown places a hold on the loopback device.
+		 * If the gc entry processing is set to expire after a lengthy
+		 * interval, this hold can cause netdev_wait_allrefs() to hang
+		 * out and wait for a long time -- until the the loopback
+		 * interface is released.  If we're really unlucky, it'll emit
+		 * pr_emerg messages to console too.  Reset the interval here,
+		 * so dst cleanups occur in a more timely fashion.
+		 */
+		if (dst_garbage.timer_inc > DST_GC_INC) {
+			dst_garbage.timer_inc = DST_GC_INC;
+			dst_garbage.timer_expires = DST_GC_MIN;
+			mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &dst_gc_work,
+					 dst_garbage.timer_expires);
+		}
 		spin_unlock_bh(&dst_garbage.lock);
 
 		if (last)