diff --git a/kernel/sched/core.c b/kernel/sched/core.c
index 3e5a6bf587f9..8931d9b1e895 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/core.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/core.c
@@ -1055,9 +1055,10 @@ void wake_up_q(struct wake_q_head *head)
 		struct task_struct *task;
 
 		task = container_of(node, struct task_struct, wake_q);
-		/* Task can safely be re-inserted now: */
 		node = node->next;
-		task->wake_q.next = NULL;
+		/* pairs with cmpxchg_relaxed() in __wake_q_add() */
+		WRITE_ONCE(task->wake_q.next, NULL);
+		/* Task can safely be re-inserted now. */
 
 		/*
 		 * wake_up_process() executes a full barrier, which pairs with