diff --git a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
index 57518efc3810..36947449dba2 100644
--- a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
+++ b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ int alarm_cancel(struct alarm *alarm)
 		int ret = alarm_try_to_cancel(alarm);
 		if (ret >= 0)
 			return ret;
-		cpu_relax();
+		hrtimer_cancel_wait_running(&alarm->timer);
 	}
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(alarm_cancel);