diff --git a/fs/afs/file.c b/fs/afs/file.c
index ec1be0091fdb..5a9d16848ad5 100644
--- a/fs/afs/file.c
+++ b/fs/afs/file.c
@@ -305,8 +305,9 @@ int afs_fetch_data(struct afs_vnode *vnode, struct afs_read *req)
 	return afs_do_sync_operation(op);
 }
 
-static void afs_issue_read(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq)
+static void afs_read_worker(struct work_struct *work)
 {
+	struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq = container_of(work, struct netfs_io_subrequest, work);
 	struct afs_vnode *vnode = AFS_FS_I(subreq->rreq->inode);
 	struct afs_read *fsreq;
 
@@ -325,6 +326,12 @@ static void afs_issue_read(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq)
 	afs_put_read(fsreq);
 }
 
+static void afs_issue_read(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq)
+{
+	INIT_WORK(&subreq->work, afs_read_worker);
+	queue_work(system_long_wq, &subreq->work);
+}
+
 static int afs_symlink_read_folio(struct file *file, struct folio *folio)
 {
 	struct afs_vnode *vnode = AFS_FS_I(folio->mapping->host);