diff --git a/net/core/pktgen.c b/net/core/pktgen.c
index fc17a9d309ac..b61f553689b6 100644
--- a/net/core/pktgen.c
+++ b/net/core/pktgen.c
@@ -3407,10 +3407,10 @@ static int pktgen_thread_worker(void *arg)
 
 	pr_debug("starting pktgen/%d:  pid=%d\n", cpu, task_pid_nr(current));
 
-	set_current_state(TASK_INTERRUPTIBLE);
-
 	set_freezable();
 
+	__set_current_state(TASK_RUNNING);
+
 	while (!kthread_should_stop()) {
 		pkt_dev = next_to_run(t);
 
@@ -3424,8 +3424,6 @@ static int pktgen_thread_worker(void *arg)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		__set_current_state(TASK_RUNNING);
-
 		if (likely(pkt_dev)) {
 			pktgen_xmit(pkt_dev);
 
@@ -3456,9 +3454,8 @@ static int pktgen_thread_worker(void *arg)
 		}
 
 		try_to_freeze();
-
-		set_current_state(TASK_INTERRUPTIBLE);
 	}
+	set_current_state(TASK_INTERRUPTIBLE);
 
 	pr_debug("%s stopping all device\n", t->tsk->comm);
 	pktgen_stop(t);