diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index 9d3a7887a6d3e0..2d9b83104dcf71 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ choice
 config TREE_RCU
 	bool "Tree-based hierarchical RCU"
 	depends on !PREEMPT && SMP
+	select IRQ_WORK
 	help
 	  This option selects the RCU implementation that is
 	  designed for very large SMP system with hundreds or
diff --git a/kernel/rcutree.c b/kernel/rcutree.c
index 16ea67925015f1..b61d20c5ee7b3e 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcutree.c
@@ -1613,6 +1613,14 @@ static int __noreturn rcu_gp_kthread(void *arg)
 	}
 }
 
+static void rsp_wakeup(struct irq_work *work)
+{
+	struct rcu_state *rsp = container_of(work, struct rcu_state, wakeup_work);
+
+	/* Wake up rcu_gp_kthread() to start the grace period. */
+	wake_up(&rsp->gp_wq);
+}
+
 /*
  * Start a new RCU grace period if warranted, re-initializing the hierarchy
  * in preparation for detecting the next grace period.  The caller must hold
@@ -1637,8 +1645,12 @@ rcu_start_gp_advanced(struct rcu_state *rsp, struct rcu_node *rnp,
 	}
 	rsp->gp_flags = RCU_GP_FLAG_INIT;
 
-	/* Wake up rcu_gp_kthread() to start the grace period. */
-	wake_up(&rsp->gp_wq);
+	/*
+	 * We can't do wakeups while holding the rnp->lock, as that
+	 * could cause possible deadlocks with the rq->lock. Deter
+	 * the wakeup to interrupt context.
+	 */
+	irq_work_queue(&rsp->wakeup_work);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -3235,6 +3247,7 @@ static void __init rcu_init_one(struct rcu_state *rsp,
 
 	rsp->rda = rda;
 	init_waitqueue_head(&rsp->gp_wq);
+	init_irq_work(&rsp->wakeup_work, rsp_wakeup);
 	rnp = rsp->level[rcu_num_lvls - 1];
 	for_each_possible_cpu(i) {
 		while (i > rnp->grphi)
diff --git a/kernel/rcutree.h b/kernel/rcutree.h
index da77a8f57ff95f..4df503470e420a 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutree.h
+++ b/kernel/rcutree.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <linux/threads.h>
 #include <linux/cpumask.h>
 #include <linux/seqlock.h>
+#include <linux/irq_work.h>
 
 /*
  * Define shape of hierarchy based on NR_CPUS, CONFIG_RCU_FANOUT, and
@@ -442,6 +443,7 @@ struct rcu_state {
 	char *name;				/* Name of structure. */
 	char abbr;				/* Abbreviated name. */
 	struct list_head flavors;		/* List of RCU flavors. */
+	struct irq_work wakeup_work;		/* Postponed wakeups */
 };
 
 /* Values for rcu_state structure's gp_flags field. */