diff --git a/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c b/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
index a87224c5510b..a22fb07512a1 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/speakup/main.c
@@ -2274,7 +2274,7 @@ static void __exit speakup_exit(void)
 	unregister_vt_notifier(&vt_notifier_block);
 	speakup_unregister_devsynth();
 	speakup_cancel_paste();
-	del_timer(&cursor_timer);
+	del_timer_sync(&cursor_timer);
 	kthread_stop(speakup_task);
 	speakup_task = NULL;
 	mutex_lock(&spk_mutex);