diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index 3436fd266cde0..3eb0408133ada 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -1455,36 +1455,16 @@ static bool pwq_is_empty(struct pool_workqueue *pwq)
 	return !pwq->nr_active && list_empty(&pwq->inactive_works);
 }
 
-static void __pwq_activate_work(struct pool_workqueue *pwq,
-				struct work_struct *work)
+static void pwq_activate_inactive_work(struct work_struct *work)
 {
+	struct pool_workqueue *pwq = get_work_pwq(work);
+
 	trace_workqueue_activate_work(work);
 	if (list_empty(&pwq->pool->worklist))
 		pwq->pool->watchdog_ts = jiffies;
 	move_linked_works(work, &pwq->pool->worklist, NULL);
 	__clear_bit(WORK_STRUCT_INACTIVE_BIT, work_data_bits(work));
-}
-
-/**
- * pwq_activate_work - Activate a work item if inactive
- * @pwq: pool_workqueue @work belongs to
- * @work: work item to activate
- *
- * Returns %true if activated. %false if already active.
- */
-static bool pwq_activate_work(struct pool_workqueue *pwq,
-			      struct work_struct *work)
-{
-	struct worker_pool *pool = pwq->pool;
-
-	lockdep_assert_held(&pool->lock);
-
-	if (!(*work_data_bits(work) & WORK_STRUCT_INACTIVE))
-		return false;
-
 	pwq->nr_active++;
-	__pwq_activate_work(pwq, work);
-	return true;
 }
 
 static void pwq_activate_first_inactive(struct pool_workqueue *pwq)
@@ -1492,7 +1472,7 @@ static void pwq_activate_first_inactive(struct pool_workqueue *pwq)
 	struct work_struct *work = list_first_entry(&pwq->inactive_works,
 						    struct work_struct, entry);
 
-	pwq_activate_work(pwq, work);
+	pwq_activate_inactive_work(work);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1630,7 +1610,8 @@ static int try_to_grab_pending(struct work_struct *work, bool is_dwork,
 		 * management later on and cause stall.  Make sure the work
 		 * item is activated before grabbing.
 		 */
-		pwq_activate_work(pwq, work);
+		if (*work_data_bits(work) & WORK_STRUCT_INACTIVE)
+			pwq_activate_inactive_work(work);
 
 		list_del_init(&work->entry);
 		pwq_dec_nr_in_flight(pwq, *work_data_bits(work));