diff --git a/kernel/bpf/cgroup.c b/kernel/bpf/cgroup.c
index e7113d700b87..025d7e2214ae 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/cgroup.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/cgroup.c
@@ -24,6 +24,23 @@
 DEFINE_STATIC_KEY_ARRAY_FALSE(cgroup_bpf_enabled_key, MAX_CGROUP_BPF_ATTACH_TYPE);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cgroup_bpf_enabled_key);
 
+/*
+ * cgroup bpf destruction makes heavy use of work items and there can be a lot
+ * of concurrent destructions.  Use a separate workqueue so that cgroup bpf
+ * destruction work items don't end up filling up max_active of system_wq
+ * which may lead to deadlock.
+ */
+static struct workqueue_struct *cgroup_bpf_destroy_wq;
+
+static int __init cgroup_bpf_wq_init(void)
+{
+	cgroup_bpf_destroy_wq = alloc_workqueue("cgroup_bpf_destroy", 0, 1);
+	if (!cgroup_bpf_destroy_wq)
+		panic("Failed to alloc workqueue for cgroup bpf destroy.\n");
+	return 0;
+}
+core_initcall(cgroup_bpf_wq_init);
+
 /* __always_inline is necessary to prevent indirect call through run_prog
  * function pointer.
  */
@@ -334,7 +351,7 @@ static void cgroup_bpf_release_fn(struct percpu_ref *ref)
 	struct cgroup *cgrp = container_of(ref, struct cgroup, bpf.refcnt);
 
 	INIT_WORK(&cgrp->bpf.release_work, cgroup_bpf_release);
-	queue_work(system_wq, &cgrp->bpf.release_work);
+	queue_work(cgroup_bpf_destroy_wq, &cgrp->bpf.release_work);
 }
 
 /* Get underlying bpf_prog of bpf_prog_list entry, regardless if it's through