diff --git a/sched/wqueue/kwork_notifier.c b/sched/wqueue/kwork_notifier.c
index 96fdbea39d..697c34eb2b 100644
--- a/sched/wqueue/kwork_notifier.c
+++ b/sched/wqueue/kwork_notifier.c
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ void work_notifier_signal(enum work_evtype_e evtype,
    */
 
   flags = enter_critical_section();
+  sched_lock();
 
   /* Process the notification at the head of the pending list until the
    * pending list is empty
@@ -386,6 +387,7 @@ void work_notifier_signal(enum work_evtype_e evtype,
         }
     }
 
+  sched_unlock();
   leave_critical_section(flags);
 }