diff --git a/examples/accel/perf/accel_perf.c b/examples/accel/perf/accel_perf.c
index 190002e40..82370f901 100644
--- a/examples/accel/perf/accel_perf.c
+++ b/examples/accel/perf/accel_perf.c
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ unregister_worker(void *arg1)
 
 	free(worker->task_base);
 	spdk_put_io_channel(worker->ch);
+	spdk_thread_exit(spdk_get_thread());
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&g_workers_lock);
 	assert(g_num_workers >= 1);
 	if (--g_num_workers == 0) {