diff --git a/sched/wqueue/kwork_process.c b/sched/wqueue/kwork_process.c
index ef044a08e87..87ed7900d31 100644
--- a/sched/wqueue/kwork_process.c
+++ b/sched/wqueue/kwork_process.c
@@ -239,7 +239,10 @@ void work_process(FAR struct kwork_wqueue_s *wqueue, uint32_t period, int wndx)
 
        sigemptyset(&set);
        sigaddset(&set, SIGWORK);
+
+       wqueue->worker[wndx].busy = false;
        DEBUGVERIFY(sigwaitinfo(&set, NULL));
+       wqueue->worker[wndx].busy = true;
      }
    else
 #endif