diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
index c561fdcb79a730aeeb890c5a985b05cb873faa45..cfc24a1daff10d4dbd1bf412804a7e92a8085bc0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
@@ -1074,8 +1074,7 @@ static void nic_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 
 	if (nic->check_link) {
 		/* Destroy work Queue */
-		cancel_delayed_work(&nic->dwork);
-		flush_workqueue(nic->check_link);
+		cancel_delayed_work_sync(&nic->dwork);
 		destroy_workqueue(nic->check_link);
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
index 2574a7ea1c0e5c07dfb01bc7a3cbd00c1b16328a..6534b73620911728edb120fbd8129864250f2684 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
@@ -695,8 +695,7 @@ static void bgx_lmac_disable(struct bgx *bgx, u8 lmacid)
 	lmac = &bgx->lmac[lmacid];
 	if (lmac->check_link) {
 		/* Destroy work queue */
-		cancel_delayed_work(&lmac->dwork);
-		flush_workqueue(lmac->check_link);
+		cancel_delayed_work_sync(&lmac->dwork);
 		destroy_workqueue(lmac->check_link);
 	}