diff --git a/drivers/atm/nicstar.c b/drivers/atm/nicstar.c
index 0d3754a4ac20..5281db3d6783 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/nicstar.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/nicstar.c
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ static void __exit nicstar_cleanup(void)
 {
 	XPRINTK("nicstar: nicstar_cleanup() called.\n");
 
-	del_timer(&ns_timer);
+	del_timer_sync(&ns_timer);
 
 	pci_unregister_driver(&nicstar_driver);