diff --git a/io_uring/io-wq.c b/io_uring/io-wq.c
index edcb5af514b5..f57743d911b4 100644
--- a/io_uring/io-wq.c
+++ b/io_uring/io-wq.c
@@ -195,9 +195,12 @@ static void io_worker_cancel_cb(struct io_worker *worker)
 	struct io_wq *wq = wqe->wq;
 
 	atomic_dec(&acct->nr_running);
-	raw_spin_lock(&worker->wqe->lock);
-	acct->nr_workers--;
-	raw_spin_unlock(&worker->wqe->lock);
+	/* create_worker_cb() has not reserved a worker slot yet. */
+	if (worker->create_work.func != create_worker_cb) {
+		raw_spin_lock(&worker->wqe->lock);
+		acct->nr_workers--;
+		raw_spin_unlock(&worker->wqe->lock);
+	}
 	io_worker_ref_put(wq);
 	clear_bit_unlock(0, &worker->create_state);
 	io_worker_release(worker);