--- x/drivers/block/loop.c
+++ y/drivers/block/loop.c
@@ -1974,7 +1974,8 @@ static void loop_process_work(struct loo
 	 */
 	if (worker && !work_pending(&worker->work)) {
 		worker->last_ran_at = jiffies;
-		list_add_tail(&worker->idle_list, &lo->idle_worker_list);
+		if (list_empty(&worker->idle_list))
+			list_add_tail(&worker->idle_list, &lo->idle_worker_list);
 		loop_set_timer(lo);
 	}
 	spin_unlock_irq(&lo->lo_work_lock);