diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netback/interface.c b/drivers/net/xen-netback/interface.c
index 9259a732e8a4..037f74f0fcf6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netback/interface.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netback/interface.c
@@ -578,6 +578,7 @@ int xenvif_connect(struct xenvif_queue *queue, unsigned long tx_ring_ref,
 		goto err_rx_unbind;
 	}
 	queue->task = task;
+	get_task_struct(task);
 
 	task = kthread_create(xenvif_dealloc_kthread,
 			      (void *)queue, "%s-dealloc", queue->name);
@@ -634,6 +635,7 @@ void xenvif_disconnect(struct xenvif *vif)
 
 		if (queue->task) {
 			kthread_stop(queue->task);
+			put_task_struct(queue->task);
 			queue->task = NULL;
 		}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netback/netback.c b/drivers/net/xen-netback/netback.c
index 908e65e9b821..c8ce701a7efb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netback/netback.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netback/netback.c
@@ -2109,8 +2109,7 @@ int xenvif_kthread_guest_rx(void *data)
 		 */
 		if (unlikely(vif->disabled && queue->id == 0)) {
 			xenvif_carrier_off(vif);
-			xenvif_rx_queue_purge(queue);
-			continue;
+			break;
 		}
 
 		if (!skb_queue_empty(&queue->rx_queue))