diff --git a/kernel/hrtimer.c b/kernel/hrtimer.c
index f181ff4dd32e..d2a7296c8251 100644
--- a/kernel/hrtimer.c
+++ b/kernel/hrtimer.c
@@ -501,6 +501,7 @@ int hrtimer_cancel(struct hrtimer *timer)
 
 		if (ret >= 0)
 			return ret;
+		cpu_relax();
 	}
 }