diff --git a/include/linux/mmc/host.h b/include/linux/mmc/host.h
index 1369e54faeb7e2ee8ef3d49481751249c70bbcbd..83b81fd865f3bba12e7bc7d4c0ac8091ca067c09 100644
--- a/include/linux/mmc/host.h
+++ b/include/linux/mmc/host.h
@@ -412,7 +412,8 @@ static inline void mmc_signal_sdio_irq(struct mmc_host *host)
 {
 	host->ops->enable_sdio_irq(host, 0);
 	host->sdio_irq_pending = true;
-	wake_up_process(host->sdio_irq_thread);
+	if (host->sdio_irq_thread)
+		wake_up_process(host->sdio_irq_thread);
 }
 
 void sdio_run_irqs(struct mmc_host *host);