diff --git a/fs/io-wq.h b/fs/io-wq.h
index 3999ee58ff26..308af3928424 100644
--- a/fs/io-wq.h
+++ b/fs/io-wq.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ static inline void wq_list_add_after(struct io_wq_work_node *node,
 static inline void wq_list_add_tail(struct io_wq_work_node *node,
 				    struct io_wq_work_list *list)
 {
+	node->next = NULL;
 	if (!list->first) {
 		list->last = node;
 		WRITE_ONCE(list->first, node);
@@ -51,7 +52,6 @@ static inline void wq_list_add_tail(struct io_wq_work_node *node,
 		list->last->next = node;
 		list->last = node;
 	}
-	node->next = NULL;
 }
 
 static inline void wq_list_cut(struct io_wq_work_list *list,