diff --git a/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c b/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
index b21fe75f1f..493b540c4e 100644
--- a/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
+++ b/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
@@ -118,7 +118,10 @@ int work_queue(int qid, FAR struct work_s *work, worker_t worker,
 
   /* Remove the entry from the timer and work queue. */
 
-  work_cancel(qid, work);
+  if (work->worker != NULL)
+    {
+      work_cancel(qid, work);
+    }
 
   /* Initialize the work structure. */