diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index 4026d1871407..56b7cf898f10 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -4208,6 +4208,7 @@ static int init_rescuer(struct workqueue_struct *wq)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+__printf(1, 4)
 struct workqueue_struct *alloc_workqueue(const char *fmt,
 					 unsigned int flags,
 					 int max_active, ...)