diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
index ce918fe987c6..b49500a1bd36 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
@@ -1268,8 +1268,10 @@ static void shutdown_ssif(void *send_info)
 	ssif_info->stopping = true;
 	timer_delete_sync(&ssif_info->watch_timer);
 	timer_delete_sync(&ssif_info->retry_timer);
-	if (ssif_info->thread)
+	if (ssif_info->thread) {
 		kthread_stop(ssif_info->thread);
+		ssif_info->thread = NULL;
+	}
 }
 
 static void ssif_remove(struct i2c_client *client)
@@ -1912,6 +1914,15 @@ static int ssif_probe(struct i2c_client *client)
 
  out:
 	if (rv) {
+		/*
+		 * If ipmi_register_smi() starts the interface, it will
+		 * call shutdown and that will free the thread and set
+		 * it to NULL.  Otherwise it must be freed here.
+		 */
+		if (ssif_info->thread) {
+			kthread_stop(ssif_info->thread);
+			ssif_info->thread = NULL;
+		}
 		if (addr_info)
 			addr_info->client = NULL;