diff --git a/drivers/auxdisplay/ht16k33.c b/drivers/auxdisplay/ht16k33.c
index a43276c76fc6..21393ec3b9a4 100644
--- a/drivers/auxdisplay/ht16k33.c
+++ b/drivers/auxdisplay/ht16k33.c
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ static int ht16k33_remove(struct i2c_client *client)
 	struct ht16k33_priv *priv = i2c_get_clientdata(client);
 	struct ht16k33_fbdev *fbdev = &priv->fbdev;
 
-	cancel_delayed_work(&fbdev->work);
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&fbdev->work);
 	unregister_framebuffer(fbdev->info);
 	framebuffer_release(fbdev->info);
 	free_page((unsigned long) fbdev->buffer);