diff --git a/lib/util/io_channel.c b/lib/util/io_channel.c
index 5a3609cc4..355878496 100644
--- a/lib/util/io_channel.c
+++ b/lib/util/io_channel.c
@@ -273,9 +273,11 @@ spdk_get_io_channel(void *io_device)
 	return ch;
 }
 
-void
-spdk_put_io_channel(struct spdk_io_channel *ch)
+static void
+_spdk_put_io_channel(void *arg)
 {
+	struct spdk_io_channel *ch = arg;
+
 	if (ch->ref == 0) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("ref already zero\n");
 		return;
@@ -290,6 +292,12 @@ spdk_put_io_channel(struct spdk_io_channel *ch)
 	}
 }
 
+void
+spdk_put_io_channel(struct spdk_io_channel *ch)
+{
+	spdk_thread_send_msg(ch->thread, _spdk_put_io_channel, ch);
+}
+
 void *
 spdk_io_channel_get_ctx(struct spdk_io_channel *ch)
 {