diff --git a/doc/reference/kernel/threads/workqueue.rst b/doc/reference/kernel/threads/workqueue.rst
index 91f97759b74..8611ae5fb9e 100644
--- a/doc/reference/kernel/threads/workqueue.rst
+++ b/doc/reference/kernel/threads/workqueue.rst
@@ -222,9 +222,11 @@ Defining and Controlling a Workqueue
 ====================================
 
 A workqueue is defined using a variable of type :c:struct:`k_work_q`.
-The workqueue is initialized by defining the stack area used by its thread
-and then calling :c:func:`k_work_queue_start`. The stack area must be defined
-using :c:macro:`K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE` to ensure it is properly set up in
+The workqueue is initialized by defining the stack area used by its
+thread, initializing the :c:struct:`k_work_q`, either zeroing its
+memory or calling :c:func:`k_work_queue_init`, and then calling
+:c:func:`k_work_queue_start`. The stack area must be defined using
+:c:macro:`K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE` to ensure it is properly set up in
 memory.
 
 The following code defines and initializes a workqueue:
@@ -238,6 +240,8 @@ The following code defines and initializes a workqueue:
 
     struct k_work_q my_work_q;
 
+    k_work_queue_init(&my_work_q);
+
     k_work_queue_start(&my_work_q, my_stack_area,
                        K_THREAD_STACK_SIZEOF(my_stack_area), MY_PRIORITY,
 		       NULL);
diff --git a/include/kernel.h b/include/kernel.h
index ec037962ea1..7183feef103 100644
--- a/include/kernel.h
+++ b/include/kernel.h
@@ -3061,7 +3061,9 @@ void k_work_queue_init(struct k_work_q *queue);
  * This configures the work queue thread and starts it running.  The function
  * should not be re-invoked on a queue.
  *
- * @param queue pointer to the queue structure.
+ * @param queue pointer to the queue structure. It must be initialized
+ *        in zeroed/bss memory or with @ref k_work_queue_init before
+ *        use.
  *
  * @param stack pointer to the work thread stack area.
  *