diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
index aab4605de9c4..4d68a2437b0e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@ static void rtl_watchdog_wq_callback(struct work_struct *work);
 static void rtl_fwevt_wq_callback(struct work_struct *work);
 static void rtl_c2hcmd_wq_callback(struct work_struct *work);
 
+static char deinit;
 static int _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 {
 	struct rtl_priv *rtlpriv = rtl_priv(hw);
@@ -449,6 +450,7 @@ static int _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	if (!wq)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	deinit = 0;
 	/* <1> timer */
 	timer_setup(&rtlpriv->works.watchdog_timer,
 		    rtl_watch_dog_timer_callback, 0);
@@ -473,6 +475,8 @@ void rtl_deinit_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, bool ips_wq)
 {
 	struct rtl_priv *rtlpriv = rtl_priv(hw);
 
+	if (deinit)
+		return;
 	del_timer_sync(&rtlpriv->works.watchdog_timer);
 
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&rtlpriv->works.watchdog_wq);
@@ -484,6 +488,7 @@ void rtl_deinit_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, bool ips_wq)
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&rtlpriv->works.ps_rfon_wq);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&rtlpriv->works.fwevt_wq);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&rtlpriv->works.c2hcmd_wq);
+	deinit = 1;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(rtl_deinit_deferred_work);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/usb.c
index d37a017b2b81..aaa16bc23e91 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/usb.c
@@ -1064,9 +1064,9 @@ void rtl_usb_disconnect(struct usb_interface *intf)
 		ieee80211_unregister_hw(hw);
 		rtlmac->mac80211_registered = 0;
 	} else {
-		rtl_deinit_deferred_work(hw, false);
 		rtlpriv->intf_ops->adapter_stop(hw);
 	}
+	rtl_deinit_deferred_work(hw, false);
 	/*deinit rfkill */
 	/* rtl_deinit_rfkill(hw); */
 	rtl_usb_deinit(hw);