diff --git a/fs/io_uring.c b/fs/io_uring.c
index 3de7237e23f5449a67697fc138c9cffda5ec2d38..7fdb854a02cf39e864913c8c2fb5a2f04f259c52 100644
--- a/fs/io_uring.c
+++ b/fs/io_uring.c
@@ -5031,7 +5031,7 @@ static int io_req_defer(struct io_kiocb *req, const struct io_uring_sqe *sqe)
 	int ret;
 
 	/* Still need defer if there is pending req in defer list. */
-	if (!req_need_defer(req) && list_empty(&ctx->defer_list))
+	if (!req_need_defer(req) && list_empty_careful(&ctx->defer_list))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!req->io && io_alloc_async_ctx(req))