diff --git a/util/thread-pool.c b/util/thread-pool.c
index 196835b4d3..4979f30ca3 100644
--- a/util/thread-pool.c
+++ b/util/thread-pool.c
@@ -127,9 +127,8 @@ static void *worker_thread(void *opaque)
         smp_wmb();
         req->state = THREAD_DONE;
 
-        qemu_mutex_lock(&pool->lock);
-
         qemu_bh_schedule(pool->completion_bh);
+        qemu_mutex_lock(&pool->lock);
     }
 
     pool->cur_threads--;