diff --git a/fs/bcachefs/alloc_background.c b/fs/bcachefs/alloc_background.c
index 83b3445cc76f..c44e0417af87 100644
--- a/fs/bcachefs/alloc_background.c
+++ b/fs/bcachefs/alloc_background.c
@@ -1257,7 +1257,8 @@ void bch2_dev_allocator_add(struct bch_fs *c, struct bch_dev *ca)
 
 void bch2_dev_allocator_quiesce(struct bch_fs *c, struct bch_dev *ca)
 {
-	closure_wait_event(&c->freelist_wait, ca->allocator_blocked_full);
+	if (ca->alloc_thread)
+		closure_wait_event(&c->freelist_wait, ca->allocator_blocked_full);
 }
 
 /* stop allocator thread: */