diff --git a/kernel/kthread.c b/kernel/kthread.c
index 92cf6930ab51..ac72eea48339 100644
--- a/kernel/kthread.c
+++ b/kernel/kthread.c
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ struct task_struct *kthread_create(int (*threadfn)(void *data),
 
 	spin_lock(&kthread_create_lock);
 	list_add_tail(&create.list, &kthread_create_list);
-	wake_up_process(kthreadd_task);
 	spin_unlock(&kthread_create_lock);
 
+	wake_up_process(kthreadd_task);
 	wait_for_completion(&create.done);
 
 	if (!IS_ERR(create.result)) {