diff --git a/include/zephyr/kernel.h b/include/zephyr/kernel.h
index adf121f72ee..9f2b750d166 100644
--- a/include/zephyr/kernel.h
+++ b/include/zephyr/kernel.h
@@ -3289,7 +3289,7 @@ void k_work_init(struct k_work *work,
  * @param work pointer to the work item.
  *
  * @return a mask of flags K_WORK_DELAYED, K_WORK_QUEUED,
- * K_WORK_RUNNING, and K_WORK_CANCELING.
+ * K_WORK_RUNNING, K_WORK_CANCELING, and K_WORK_FLUSHING.
  */
 int k_work_busy_get(const struct k_work *work);
 
@@ -3545,9 +3545,9 @@ k_work_delayable_from_work(struct k_work *work);
  *
  * @param dwork pointer to the delayable work item.
  *
- * @return a mask of flags K_WORK_DELAYED, K_WORK_QUEUED, K_WORK_RUNNING, and
- * K_WORK_CANCELING.  A zero return value indicates the work item appears to
- * be idle.
+ * @return a mask of flags K_WORK_DELAYED, K_WORK_QUEUED, K_WORK_RUNNING,
+ * K_WORK_CANCELING, and K_WORK_FLUSHING.  A zero return value indicates the
+ * work item appears to be idle.
  */
 int k_work_delayable_busy_get(const struct k_work_delayable *dwork);
 
@@ -3795,9 +3795,10 @@ enum {
 	K_WORK_CANCELING_BIT = 1,
 	K_WORK_QUEUED_BIT = 2,
 	K_WORK_DELAYED_BIT = 3,
+	K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT = 4,
 
 	K_WORK_MASK = BIT(K_WORK_DELAYED_BIT) | BIT(K_WORK_QUEUED_BIT)
-		| BIT(K_WORK_RUNNING_BIT) | BIT(K_WORK_CANCELING_BIT),
+		| BIT(K_WORK_RUNNING_BIT) | BIT(K_WORK_CANCELING_BIT) | BIT(K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT),
 
 	/* Static work flags */
 	K_WORK_DELAYABLE_BIT = 8,
@@ -3848,6 +3849,12 @@ enum {
 	 * Accessed via k_work_busy_get().  May co-occur with other flags.
 	 */
 	K_WORK_DELAYED = BIT(K_WORK_DELAYED_BIT),
+
+	/** @brief Flag indicating a synced work item that is being flushed.
+	 *
+	 * Accessed via k_work_busy_get().  May co-occur with other flags.
+	 */
+	K_WORK_FLUSHING = BIT(K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT),
 };
 
 /** @brief A structure used to submit work. */
diff --git a/kernel/work.c b/kernel/work.c
index c5d7c9b5bb8..a56aa67829c 100644
--- a/kernel/work.c
+++ b/kernel/work.c
@@ -63,18 +63,14 @@ static inline uint32_t flags_get(const uint32_t *flagp)
 static struct k_spinlock lock;
 
 /* Invoked by work thread */
-static void handle_flush(struct k_work *work)
-{
-	struct z_work_flusher *flusher
-		= CONTAINER_OF(work, struct z_work_flusher, work);
-
-	k_sem_give(&flusher->sem);
-}
+static void handle_flush(struct k_work *work) { }
 
 static inline void init_flusher(struct z_work_flusher *flusher)
 {
+	struct k_work *work = &flusher->work;
 	k_sem_init(&flusher->sem, 0, 1);
 	k_work_init(&flusher->work, handle_flush);
+	flag_set(&work->flags, K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT);
 }
 
 /* List of pending cancellations. */
@@ -96,6 +92,26 @@ static inline void init_work_cancel(struct z_work_canceller *canceler,
 	sys_slist_append(&pending_cancels, &canceler->node);
 }
 
+/* Comeplete flushing of a work item.
+ *
+ * Invoked with work lock held.
+ *
+ * Invoked from a work queue thread.
+ *
+ * Reschedules.
+ *
+ * @param work the work structure that has completed flushing.
+ */
+static void finalize_flush_locked(struct k_work *work)
+{
+	struct z_work_flusher *flusher
+		= CONTAINER_OF(work, struct z_work_flusher, work);
+
+	flag_clear(&work->flags, K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT);
+
+	k_sem_give(&flusher->sem);
+};
+
 /* Complete cancellation of a work item and unlock held lock.
  *
  * Invoked with work lock held.
@@ -672,13 +688,16 @@ static void work_queue_main(void *workq_ptr, void *p2, void *p3)
 		handler(work);
 
 		/* Mark the work item as no longer running and deal
-		 * with any cancellation issued while it was running.
-		 * Clear the BUSY flag and optionally yield to prevent
-		 * starving other threads.
+		 * with any cancellation and flushing issued while it
+		 * was running.  Clear the BUSY flag and optionally
+		 * yield to prevent starving other threads.
 		 */
 		key = k_spin_lock(&lock);
 
 		flag_clear(&work->flags, K_WORK_RUNNING_BIT);
+		if (flag_test(&work->flags, K_WORK_FLUSHING_BIT)) {
+			finalize_flush_locked(work);
+		}
 		if (flag_test(&work->flags, K_WORK_CANCELING_BIT)) {
 			finalize_cancel_locked(work);
 		}