diff --git a/drivers/scsi/cxlflash/main.c b/drivers/scsi/cxlflash/main.c
index 6b8b15917ae3..d0b99721c4f3 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/cxlflash/main.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/cxlflash/main.c
@@ -736,11 +736,11 @@ static void cxlflash_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 		/* Fall through */
 	case INIT_STATE_AFU:
 		term_afu(cfg);
+		cancel_work_sync(&cfg->work_q);
 	case INIT_STATE_PCI:
 		pci_release_regions(cfg->dev);
 		pci_disable_device(pdev);
 	case INIT_STATE_NONE:
-		flush_work(&cfg->work_q);
 		free_mem(cfg);
 		scsi_host_put(cfg->host);
 		break;