diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5-cache.c b/drivers/md/raid5-cache.c
index d9b94e25e815..1063dccd6877 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5-cache.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5-cache.c
@@ -3165,12 +3165,13 @@ void r5l_exit_log(struct r5conf *conf)
 {
 	struct r5l_log *log = conf->log;
 
-	conf->log = NULL;
-
 	/* Ensure disable_writeback_work wakes up and exits */
 	wake_up(&conf->mddev->sb_wait);
 	flush_work(&log->disable_writeback_work);
 	md_unregister_thread(&log->reclaim_thread);
+
+	conf->log = NULL;
+
 	mempool_exit(&log->meta_pool);
 	bioset_exit(&log->bs);
 	mempool_exit(&log->io_pool);