diff --git a/io_uring/io-wq.c b/io_uring/io-wq.c
index 81b5e4462dba4b819aab4458a1185cf5010484ef..87bc38b4710376afbc016c58d3370ca77f844dd3 100644
--- a/io_uring/io-wq.c
+++ b/io_uring/io-wq.c
@@ -1217,7 +1217,12 @@ static void io_wq_cancel_tw_create(struct io_wq *wq)
 
 		worker = container_of(cb, struct io_worker, create_work);
 		io_worker_cancel_cb(worker);
-		kfree(worker);
+		/*
+		 * Only the worker continuation helper has worker allocated and
+		 * hence needs freeing.
+		 */
+		if (cb->func == create_worker_cont)
+			kfree(worker);
 	}
 }