diff --git a/io_uring/io_uring.c b/io_uring/io_uring.c
index 12e8acd30096..433466455a5f 100644
--- a/io_uring/io_uring.c
+++ b/io_uring/io_uring.c
@@ -1208,6 +1208,9 @@ int io_run_local_work(struct io_ring_ctx *ctx)
 	bool locked;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (llist_empty(&ctx->work_llist))
+		return 0;
+
 	locked = mutex_trylock(&ctx->uring_lock);
 	ret = __io_run_local_work(ctx, locked);
 	if (locked)