diff --git a/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq_ondemand.c b/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq_ondemand.c
index 338f428a15b7..e741c339df76 100644
--- a/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq_ondemand.c
+++ b/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq_ondemand.c
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ static unsigned int dbs_enable;	/* number of CPUs using this policy */
  * (like __cpufreq_driver_target()) is being called with dbs_mutex taken, then
  * cpu_hotplug lock should be taken before that. Note that cpu_hotplug lock
  * is recursive for the same process. -Venki
+ * DEADLOCK ALERT! (2) : do_dbs_timer() must not take the dbs_mutex, because it
+ * would deadlock with cancel_delayed_work_sync(), which is needed for proper
+ * raceless workqueue teardown.
  */
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(dbs_mutex);
 
@@ -562,7 +565,7 @@ static inline void dbs_timer_init(struct cpu_dbs_info_s *dbs_info)
 static inline void dbs_timer_exit(struct cpu_dbs_info_s *dbs_info)
 {
 	dbs_info->enable = 0;
-	cancel_delayed_work(&dbs_info->work);
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&dbs_info->work);
 }
 
 static int cpufreq_governor_dbs(struct cpufreq_policy *policy,