diff --git a/net/core/pktgen.c b/net/core/pktgen.c
index 4d8ce93cd5039..77a59980b5792 100644
--- a/net/core/pktgen.c
+++ b/net/core/pktgen.c
@@ -1931,7 +1931,7 @@ static int pktgen_device_event(struct notifier_block *unused,
 {
 	struct net_device *dev = ptr;
 
-	if (!net_eq(dev_net(dev), &init_net))
+	if (!net_eq(dev_net(dev), &init_net) || pktgen_exiting)
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;
 
 	/* It is OK that we do not hold the group lock right now,
@@ -3755,12 +3755,18 @@ static void __exit pg_cleanup(void)
 {
 	struct pktgen_thread *t;
 	struct list_head *q, *n;
+	struct list_head list;
 
 	/* Stop all interfaces & threads */
 	pktgen_exiting = true;
 
-	list_for_each_safe(q, n, &pktgen_threads) {
+	mutex_lock(&pktgen_thread_lock);
+	list_splice(&list, &pktgen_threads);
+	mutex_unlock(&pktgen_thread_lock);
+
+	list_for_each_safe(q, n, &list) {
 		t = list_entry(q, struct pktgen_thread, th_list);
+		list_del(&t->th_list);
 		kthread_stop(t->tsk);
 		kfree(t);
 	}