diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index bc25bdf..cac7106 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -1793,6 +1793,26 @@
 }
 
 /**
+ * create_and_start_worker - create and start a worker for a pool
+ * @pool: the target pool
+ *
+ * Create and start a new worker for @pool.
+ */
+static int create_and_start_worker(struct worker_pool *pool)
+{
+	struct worker *worker;
+
+	worker = create_worker(pool);
+	if (worker) {
+		spin_lock_irq(&pool->lock);
+		start_worker(worker);
+		spin_unlock_irq(&pool->lock);
+	}
+
+	return worker ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
+}
+
+/**
  * destroy_worker - destroy a workqueue worker
  * @worker: worker to be destroyed
  *
@@ -3542,7 +3562,6 @@
 	static DEFINE_MUTEX(create_mutex);
 	u32 hash = wqattrs_hash(attrs);
 	struct worker_pool *pool;
-	struct worker *worker;
 
 	mutex_lock(&create_mutex);
 
@@ -3568,14 +3587,9 @@
 		goto fail;
 
 	/* create and start the initial worker */
-	worker = create_worker(pool);
-	if (!worker)
+	if (create_and_start_worker(pool) < 0)
 		goto fail;
 
-	spin_lock_irq(&pool->lock);
-	start_worker(worker);
-	spin_unlock_irq(&pool->lock);
-
 	/* install */
 	spin_lock_irq(&workqueue_lock);
 	hash_add(unbound_pool_hash, &pool->hash_node, hash);
@@ -4148,18 +4162,10 @@
 	switch (action & ~CPU_TASKS_FROZEN) {
 	case CPU_UP_PREPARE:
 		for_each_cpu_worker_pool(pool, cpu) {
-			struct worker *worker;
-
 			if (pool->nr_workers)
 				continue;
-
-			worker = create_worker(pool);
-			if (!worker)
+			if (create_and_start_worker(pool) < 0)
 				return NOTIFY_BAD;
-
-			spin_lock_irq(&pool->lock);
-			start_worker(worker);
-			spin_unlock_irq(&pool->lock);
 		}
 		break;
 
@@ -4409,15 +4415,8 @@
 		struct worker_pool *pool;
 
 		for_each_cpu_worker_pool(pool, cpu) {
-			struct worker *worker;
-
 			pool->flags &= ~POOL_DISASSOCIATED;
-
-			worker = create_worker(pool);
-			BUG_ON(!worker);
-			spin_lock_irq(&pool->lock);
-			start_worker(worker);
-			spin_unlock_irq(&pool->lock);
+			BUG_ON(create_and_start_worker(pool) < 0);
 		}
 	}