diff --git a/mm/pgtable-generic.c b/mm/pgtable-generic.c
--- a/mm/pgtable-generic.c
+++ b/mm/pgtable-generic.c
@@ -438,12 +438,30 @@ static void kernel_pgtable_work_func(struct work_struct *work)
 		__pagetable_free(pt);
 }
 
+static void schedule_kernel_pgtable_free(void)
+{
+	schedule_work(&kernel_pgtable_work.work);
+}
+
 void pagetable_free_kernel(struct ptdesc *pt)
 {
 	spin_lock(&kernel_pgtable_work.lock);
 	list_add(&pt->pt_list, &kernel_pgtable_work.list);
 	spin_unlock(&kernel_pgtable_work.lock);
 
-	schedule_work(&kernel_pgtable_work.work);
+	/*
+	 * The workqueue may not exist yet while the system is booting.
+	 * kernel_pgtable_drain_early() schedules the work once it does.
+	 */
+	if (system_state != SYSTEM_BOOTING)
+		schedule_kernel_pgtable_free();
 }
+
+static int __init kernel_pgtable_drain_early(void)
+{
+	/* Free the kernel page tables queued while booting. */
+	schedule_kernel_pgtable_free();
+	return 0;
+}
+core_initcall(kernel_pgtable_drain_early);
 #endif