diff --git a/fs/io-wq.c b/fs/io-wq.c
index ba40a7ee31c3..9b375009a553 100644
--- a/fs/io-wq.c
+++ b/fs/io-wq.c
@@ -338,8 +338,7 @@ static void io_worker_handle_work(struct io_worker *worker)
 static inline bool io_wqe_run_queue(struct io_wqe *wqe)
 	__must_hold(wqe->lock)
 {
-	if (!list_empty_careful(&wqe->work_list) &&
-	    !(wqe->flags & IO_WQE_FLAG_STALLED))
+	if (!list_empty(&wqe->work_list) && !(wqe->flags & IO_WQE_FLAG_STALLED))
 		return true;
 	return false;
 }