diff --git a/kernel/padata.c b/kernel/padata.c
index 18d3a5c699d84..9395b77fabb19 100644
--- a/kernel/padata.c
+++ b/kernel/padata.c
@@ -207,14 +207,16 @@ int padata_do_parallel(struct padata_shell *ps,
 	pw = padata_work_alloc();
 	spin_unlock(&padata_works_lock);
 
+	if (!pw) {
+		/* Maximum works limit exceeded, run in the current task. */
+		padata->parallel(padata);
+	}
+
 	rcu_read_unlock_bh();
 
 	if (pw) {
 		padata_work_init(pw, padata_parallel_worker, padata, 0);
 		queue_work(pinst->parallel_wq, &pw->pw_work);
-	} else {
-		/* Maximum works limit exceeded, run in the current task. */
-		padata->parallel(padata);
 	}
 
 	return 0;