diff --git a/kernel/exit.c b/kernel/exit.c
index 570255f541e50..d890628a9412c 100644
--- a/kernel/exit.c
+++ b/kernel/exit.c
@@ -91,6 +91,14 @@ static void __exit_signal(struct task_struct *tsk)
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&sig->count))
 		posix_cpu_timers_exit_group(tsk);
 	else {
+		/*
+		 * This can only happen if the caller is de_thread().
+		 * FIXME: this is the temporary hack, we should teach
+		 * posix-cpu-timers to handle this case correctly.
+		 */
+		if (unlikely(has_group_leader_pid(tsk)))
+			posix_cpu_timers_exit_group(tsk);
+
 		/*
 		 * If there is any task waiting for the group exit
 		 * then notify it: