diff --git a/tools/uma/smrstress/smrstress.c b/tools/uma/smrstress/smrstress.c
index 7e7ee4ea065c..2cf5f50ffae4 100644
--- a/tools/uma/smrstress/smrstress.c
+++ b/tools/uma/smrstress/smrstress.c
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ smrs_thread(void *arg)
 	else
 		smrs_read();
 	atomic_add_int(&smrs_completed, 1);
+	kthread_exit();
 }
 
 static void