diff --git a/io_uring/io-wq.c b/io_uring/io-wq.c
index 37725c5031b4..a20be1a43aaf 100644
--- a/io_uring/io-wq.c
+++ b/io_uring/io-wq.c
@@ -193,9 +193,12 @@ static void io_worker_cancel_cb(struct io_worker *worker)
 	struct io_wq *wq = worker->wq;
 
 	atomic_dec(&acct->nr_running);
-	raw_spin_lock(&wq->lock);
-	acct->nr_workers--;
-	raw_spin_unlock(&wq->lock);
+	/* create_worker_cb() has not reserved a worker slot yet. */
+	if (worker->create_work.func != create_worker_cb) {
+		raw_spin_lock(&wq->lock);
+		acct->nr_workers--;
+		raw_spin_unlock(&wq->lock);
+	}
 	io_worker_ref_put(wq);
 	clear_bit_unlock(0, &worker->create_state);
 	io_worker_release(worker);