diff --git a/kernel/power/power.h b/kernel/power/power.h
index 0c4defe6d3b8..21724eee5206 100644
--- a/kernel/power/power.h
+++ b/kernel/power/power.h
@@ -231,8 +231,28 @@ extern int pm_test_level;
 #ifdef CONFIG_SUSPEND_FREEZER
 static inline int suspend_freeze_processes(void)
 {
-	int error = freeze_processes();
-	return error ? : freeze_kernel_threads();
+	int error;
+
+	error = freeze_processes();
+
+	/*
+	 * freeze_processes() automatically thaws every task if freezing
+	 * fails. So we need not do anything extra upon error.
+	 */
+	if (error)
+		goto Finish;
+
+	error = freeze_kernel_threads();
+
+	/*
+	 * freeze_kernel_threads() thaws only kernel threads upon freezing
+	 * failure. So we have to thaw the userspace tasks ourselves.
+	 */
+	if (error)
+		thaw_processes();
+
+ Finish:
+	return error;
 }
 
 static inline void suspend_thaw_processes(void)
diff --git a/kernel/power/process.c b/kernel/power/process.c
index eeca00311f39..7e426459e60a 100644
--- a/kernel/power/process.c
+++ b/kernel/power/process.c
@@ -143,7 +143,10 @@ int freeze_processes(void)
 /**
  * freeze_kernel_threads - Make freezable kernel threads go to the refrigerator.
  *
- * On success, returns 0.  On failure, -errno and system is fully thawed.
+ * On success, returns 0.  On failure, -errno and only the kernel threads are
+ * thawed, so as to give a chance to the caller to do additional cleanups
+ * (if any) before thawing the userspace tasks. So, it is the responsibility
+ * of the caller to thaw the userspace tasks, when the time is right.
  */
 int freeze_kernel_threads(void)
 {
@@ -159,7 +162,7 @@ int freeze_kernel_threads(void)
 	BUG_ON(in_atomic());
 
 	if (error)
-		thaw_processes();
+		thaw_kernel_threads();
 	return error;
 }