diff --git a/drivers/tty/sysrq.c b/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
index 5381a728d23e..e5139402e7f8 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ static void sysrq_handle_crash(int key)
 {
 	char *killer = NULL;
 
+	/* we need to release the RCU read lock here,
+	 * otherwise we get an annoying
+	 * 'BUG: sleeping function called from invalid context'
+	 * complaint from the kernel before the panic.
+	 */
+	rcu_read_unlock();
 	panic_on_oops = 1;	/* force panic */
 	wmb();
 	*killer = 1;