diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
index 80dbda84f1c3..fc7608a89d93 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
@@ -512,11 +512,8 @@ int mce_available(struct cpuinfo_x86 *c)
 
 static void mce_schedule_work(void)
 {
-	if (!mce_ring_empty()) {
-		struct work_struct *work = &__get_cpu_var(mce_work);
-		if (!work_pending(work))
-			schedule_work(work);
-	}
+	if (!mce_ring_empty())
+		schedule_work(&__get_cpu_var(mce_work));
 }
 
 DEFINE_PER_CPU(struct irq_work, mce_irq_work);
@@ -1351,12 +1348,7 @@ int mce_notify_irq(void)
 		/* wake processes polling /dev/mcelog */
 		wake_up_interruptible(&mce_chrdev_wait);
 
-		/*
-		 * There is no risk of missing notifications because
-		 * work_pending is always cleared before the function is
-		 * executed.
-		 */
-		if (mce_helper[0] && !work_pending(&mce_trigger_work))
+		if (mce_helper[0])
 			schedule_work(&mce_trigger_work);
 
 		if (__ratelimit(&ratelimit))
diff --git a/drivers/net/can/sja1000/peak_pci.c b/drivers/net/can/sja1000/peak_pci.c
index d84888f03d92..600ac7226e5c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/sja1000/peak_pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/sja1000/peak_pci.c
@@ -339,8 +339,7 @@ static void peak_pciec_set_leds(struct peak_pciec_card *card, u8 led_mask, u8 s)
  */
 static void peak_pciec_start_led_work(struct peak_pciec_card *card)
 {
-	if (!delayed_work_pending(&card->led_work))
-		schedule_delayed_work(&card->led_work, HZ);
+	schedule_delayed_work(&card->led_work, HZ);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/netdev.c b/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/netdev.c
index 1d76ae855f07..530581ca0191 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/netdev.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void i2400m_wake_tx_work(struct work_struct *ws)
 	struct i2400m *i2400m = container_of(ws, struct i2400m, wake_tx_ws);
 	struct net_device *net_dev = i2400m->wimax_dev.net_dev;
 	struct device *dev = i2400m_dev(i2400m);
-	struct sk_buff *skb = i2400m->wake_tx_skb;
+	struct sk_buff *skb;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
@@ -236,23 +236,26 @@ void i2400m_tx_prep_header(struct sk_buff *skb)
 void i2400m_net_wake_stop(struct i2400m *i2400m)
 {
 	struct device *dev = i2400m_dev(i2400m);
+	struct sk_buff *wake_tx_skb;
+	unsigned long flags;
 
 	d_fnstart(3, dev, "(i2400m %p)\n", i2400m);
-	/* See i2400m_hard_start_xmit(), references are taken there
-	 * and here we release them if the work was still
-	 * pending. Note we can't differentiate work not pending vs
-	 * never scheduled, so the NULL check does that. */
-	if (cancel_work_sync(&i2400m->wake_tx_ws) == 0
-	    && i2400m->wake_tx_skb != NULL) {
-		unsigned long flags;
-		struct sk_buff *wake_tx_skb;
-		spin_lock_irqsave(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
-		wake_tx_skb = i2400m->wake_tx_skb;	/* compat help */
-		i2400m->wake_tx_skb = NULL;	/* compat help */
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
+	/*
+	 * See i2400m_hard_start_xmit(), references are taken there and
+	 * here we release them if the packet was still pending.
+	 */
+	cancel_work_sync(&i2400m->wake_tx_ws);
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
+	wake_tx_skb = i2400m->wake_tx_skb;
+	i2400m->wake_tx_skb = NULL;
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
+
+	if (wake_tx_skb) {
 		i2400m_put(i2400m);
 		kfree_skb(wake_tx_skb);
 	}
+
 	d_fnend(3, dev, "(i2400m %p) = void\n", i2400m);
 }
 
@@ -288,7 +291,7 @@ int i2400m_net_wake_tx(struct i2400m *i2400m, struct net_device *net_dev,
 	 * and if pending, release those resources. */
 	result = 0;
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&i2400m->tx_lock, flags);
-	if (!work_pending(&i2400m->wake_tx_ws)) {
+	if (!i2400m->wake_tx_skb) {
 		netif_stop_queue(net_dev);
 		i2400m_get(i2400m);
 		i2400m->wake_tx_skb = skb_get(skb);	/* transfer ref count */
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.c
index d92b21a8e597..b3ab7b7becae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.c
@@ -2181,9 +2181,10 @@ static void isr_indicate_rf_kill(struct ipw2100_priv *priv, u32 status)
 	mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &priv->rf_kill, round_jiffies_relative(HZ));
 }
 
-static void send_scan_event(void *data)
+static void ipw2100_scan_event(struct work_struct *work)
 {
-	struct ipw2100_priv *priv = data;
+	struct ipw2100_priv *priv = container_of(work, struct ipw2100_priv,
+						 scan_event.work);
 	union iwreq_data wrqu;
 
 	wrqu.data.length = 0;
@@ -2191,18 +2192,6 @@ static void send_scan_event(void *data)
 	wireless_send_event(priv->net_dev, SIOCGIWSCAN, &wrqu, NULL);
 }
 
-static void ipw2100_scan_event_later(struct work_struct *work)
-{
-	send_scan_event(container_of(work, struct ipw2100_priv,
-					scan_event_later.work));
-}
-
-static void ipw2100_scan_event_now(struct work_struct *work)
-{
-	send_scan_event(container_of(work, struct ipw2100_priv,
-					scan_event_now));
-}
-
 static void isr_scan_complete(struct ipw2100_priv *priv, u32 status)
 {
 	IPW_DEBUG_SCAN("scan complete\n");
@@ -2212,13 +2201,11 @@ static void isr_scan_complete(struct ipw2100_priv *priv, u32 status)
 
 	/* Only userspace-requested scan completion events go out immediately */
 	if (!priv->user_requested_scan) {
-		if (!delayed_work_pending(&priv->scan_event_later))
-			schedule_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event_later,
-					      round_jiffies_relative(msecs_to_jiffies(4000)));
+		schedule_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event,
+				      round_jiffies_relative(msecs_to_jiffies(4000)));
 	} else {
 		priv->user_requested_scan = 0;
-		cancel_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event_later);
-		schedule_work(&priv->scan_event_now);
+		mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &priv->scan_event, 0);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -4459,8 +4446,7 @@ static void ipw2100_kill_works(struct ipw2100_priv *priv)
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->wx_event_work);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->hang_check);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->rf_kill);
-	cancel_work_sync(&priv->scan_event_now);
-	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->scan_event_later);
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->scan_event);
 }
 
 static int ipw2100_tx_allocate(struct ipw2100_priv *priv)
@@ -6195,8 +6181,7 @@ static struct net_device *ipw2100_alloc_device(struct pci_dev *pci_dev,
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->wx_event_work, ipw2100_wx_event_work);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->hang_check, ipw2100_hang_check);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->rf_kill, ipw2100_rf_kill);
-	INIT_WORK(&priv->scan_event_now, ipw2100_scan_event_now);
-	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->scan_event_later, ipw2100_scan_event_later);
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->scan_event, ipw2100_scan_event);
 
 	tasklet_init(&priv->irq_tasklet, (void (*)(unsigned long))
 		     ipw2100_irq_tasklet, (unsigned long)priv);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.h
index 5fe17cbab1f3..c6d78790cb0d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2100.h
@@ -577,8 +577,7 @@ struct ipw2100_priv {
 	struct delayed_work wx_event_work;
 	struct delayed_work hang_check;
 	struct delayed_work rf_kill;
-	struct work_struct scan_event_now;
-	struct delayed_work scan_event_later;
+	struct delayed_work scan_event;
 
 	int user_requested_scan;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2200.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2200.c
index 844f201b7b70..2c2d6db0536c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2200.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2x00/ipw2200.c
@@ -4480,18 +4480,11 @@ static void handle_scan_event(struct ipw_priv *priv)
 {
 	/* Only userspace-requested scan completion events go out immediately */
 	if (!priv->user_requested_scan) {
-		if (!delayed_work_pending(&priv->scan_event))
-			schedule_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event,
-					      round_jiffies_relative(msecs_to_jiffies(4000)));
+		schedule_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event,
+				      round_jiffies_relative(msecs_to_jiffies(4000)));
 	} else {
-		union iwreq_data wrqu;
-
 		priv->user_requested_scan = 0;
-		cancel_delayed_work(&priv->scan_event);
-
-		wrqu.data.length = 0;
-		wrqu.data.flags = 0;
-		wireless_send_event(priv->net_dev, SIOCGIWSCAN, &wrqu, NULL);
+		mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &priv->scan_event, 0);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/sdio.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/sdio.c
index 5a1c1d0e5599..f2874c3392b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/sdio.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/sdio.c
@@ -1752,6 +1752,8 @@ mwifiex_update_mp_end_port(struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter, u16 port)
 static struct mmc_host *reset_host;
 static void sdio_card_reset_worker(struct work_struct *work)
 {
+	struct mmc_host *target = reset_host;
+
 	/* The actual reset operation must be run outside of driver thread.
 	 * This is because mmc_remove_host() will cause the device to be
 	 * instantly destroyed, and the driver then needs to end its thread,
@@ -1761,10 +1763,10 @@ static void sdio_card_reset_worker(struct work_struct *work)
 	 */
 
 	pr_err("Resetting card...\n");
-	mmc_remove_host(reset_host);
+	mmc_remove_host(target);
 	/* 20ms delay is based on experiment with sdhci controller */
 	mdelay(20);
-	mmc_add_host(reset_host);
+	mmc_add_host(target);
 }
 static DECLARE_WORK(card_reset_work, sdio_card_reset_worker);
 
@@ -1773,9 +1775,6 @@ static void mwifiex_sdio_card_reset(struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	struct sdio_mmc_card *card = adapter->card;
 
-	if (work_pending(&card_reset_work))
-		return;
-
 	reset_host = card->func->card->host;
 	schedule_work(&card_reset_work);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wl1251/ps.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wl1251/ps.c
index db719f7d2692..b9e27b98bbc9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wl1251/ps.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wl1251/ps.c
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ int wl1251_ps_elp_wakeup(struct wl1251 *wl)
 	unsigned long timeout, start;
 	u32 elp_reg;
 
-	if (delayed_work_pending(&wl->elp_work))
-		cancel_delayed_work(&wl->elp_work);
+	cancel_delayed_work(&wl->elp_work);
 
 	if (!wl->elp)
 		return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.c b/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.c
index f946ca7cb762..ebcb461bb2b0 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.c
@@ -4877,8 +4877,7 @@ static int __init light_init(struct ibm_init_struct *iibm)
 static void light_exit(void)
 {
 	led_classdev_unregister(&tpacpi_led_thinklight.led_classdev);
-	if (work_pending(&tpacpi_led_thinklight.work))
-		flush_workqueue(tpacpi_wq);
+	flush_workqueue(tpacpi_wq);
 }
 
 static int light_read(struct seq_file *m)
diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c b/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
index 7ce3197087bb..dd6277eb5a38 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
@@ -179,8 +179,7 @@ static void max3100_work(struct work_struct *w);
 
 static void max3100_dowork(struct max3100_port *s)
 {
-	if (!s->force_end_work && !work_pending(&s->work) &&
-	    !freezing(current) && !s->suspending)
+	if (!s->force_end_work && !freezing(current) && !s->suspending)
 		queue_work(s->workqueue, &s->work);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/video/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c b/drivers/video/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
index 4ef18e2e90cc..2d0d144add1b 100644
--- a/drivers/video/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
+++ b/drivers/video/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
@@ -1121,8 +1121,7 @@ static int exynos_dp_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	disable_irq(dp->irq);
 
-	if (work_pending(&dp->hotplug_work))
-		flush_work(&dp->hotplug_work);
+	flush_work(&dp->hotplug_work);
 
 	if (pdev->dev.of_node) {
 		if (dp->phy_addr)
@@ -1144,8 +1143,7 @@ static int exynos_dp_suspend(struct device *dev)
 	struct exynos_dp_platdata *pdata = dev->platform_data;
 	struct exynos_dp_device *dp = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
 
-	if (work_pending(&dp->hotplug_work))
-		flush_work(&dp->hotplug_work);
+	flush_work(&dp->hotplug_work);
 
 	if (dev->of_node) {
 		if (dp->phy_addr)
diff --git a/kernel/kprobes.c b/kernel/kprobes.c
index f423c3ef4a82..550294d58a02 100644
--- a/kernel/kprobes.c
+++ b/kernel/kprobes.c
@@ -471,7 +471,6 @@ static LIST_HEAD(unoptimizing_list);
 
 static void kprobe_optimizer(struct work_struct *work);
 static DECLARE_DELAYED_WORK(optimizing_work, kprobe_optimizer);
-static DECLARE_COMPLETION(optimizer_comp);
 #define OPTIMIZE_DELAY 5
 
 /*
@@ -552,8 +551,7 @@ static __kprobes void do_free_cleaned_kprobes(struct list_head *free_list)
 /* Start optimizer after OPTIMIZE_DELAY passed */
 static __kprobes void kick_kprobe_optimizer(void)
 {
-	if (!delayed_work_pending(&optimizing_work))
-		schedule_delayed_work(&optimizing_work, OPTIMIZE_DELAY);
+	schedule_delayed_work(&optimizing_work, OPTIMIZE_DELAY);
 }
 
 /* Kprobe jump optimizer */
@@ -592,16 +590,25 @@ static __kprobes void kprobe_optimizer(struct work_struct *work)
 	/* Step 5: Kick optimizer again if needed */
 	if (!list_empty(&optimizing_list) || !list_empty(&unoptimizing_list))
 		kick_kprobe_optimizer();
-	else
-		/* Wake up all waiters */
-		complete_all(&optimizer_comp);
 }
 
 /* Wait for completing optimization and unoptimization */
 static __kprobes void wait_for_kprobe_optimizer(void)
 {
-	if (delayed_work_pending(&optimizing_work))
-		wait_for_completion(&optimizer_comp);
+	mutex_lock(&kprobe_mutex);
+
+	while (!list_empty(&optimizing_list) || !list_empty(&unoptimizing_list)) {
+		mutex_unlock(&kprobe_mutex);
+
+		/* this will also make optimizing_work execute immmediately */
+		flush_delayed_work(&optimizing_work);
+		/* @optimizing_work might not have been queued yet, relax */
+		cpu_relax();
+
+		mutex_lock(&kprobe_mutex);
+	}
+
+	mutex_unlock(&kprobe_mutex);
 }
 
 /* Optimize kprobe if p is ready to be optimized */
diff --git a/net/rfkill/input.c b/net/rfkill/input.c
index c9d931e7ffec..b85107b5ef62 100644
--- a/net/rfkill/input.c
+++ b/net/rfkill/input.c
@@ -148,11 +148,9 @@ static unsigned long rfkill_ratelimit(const unsigned long last)
 
 static void rfkill_schedule_ratelimited(void)
 {
-	if (delayed_work_pending(&rfkill_op_work))
-		return;
-	schedule_delayed_work(&rfkill_op_work,
-			      rfkill_ratelimit(rfkill_last_scheduled));
-	rfkill_last_scheduled = jiffies;
+	if (schedule_delayed_work(&rfkill_op_work,
+				  rfkill_ratelimit(rfkill_last_scheduled)))
+		rfkill_last_scheduled = jiffies;
 }
 
 static void rfkill_schedule_global_op(enum rfkill_sched_op op)