diff --git a/lib/util/io_channel.c b/lib/util/io_channel.c
index 355878496..ca5e6e659 100644
--- a/lib/util/io_channel.c
+++ b/lib/util/io_channel.c
@@ -322,6 +322,15 @@ struct call_channel {
 	spdk_channel_for_each_cpl cpl;
 };
 
+static void
+_call_completion(void *ctx)
+{
+	struct call_channel *ch_ctx = ctx;
+
+	ch_ctx->cpl(ch_ctx->io_device, ch_ctx->ctx);
+	free(ch_ctx);
+}
+
 static void
 _call_channel(void *ctx)
 {
@@ -351,8 +360,7 @@ _call_channel(void *ctx)
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_devlist_mutex);
 
-	ch_ctx->cpl(ch_ctx->io_device, ch_ctx->ctx);
-	free(ch_ctx);
+	spdk_thread_send_msg(ch_ctx->orig_thread, _call_completion, ch_ctx);
 }
 
 void