diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/ucx/pml_ucx.c b/ompi/mca/pml/ucx/pml_ucx.c
index 418fc0f43c..388b3f2042 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/ucx/pml_ucx.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/ucx/pml_ucx.c
@@ -78,11 +78,6 @@ mca_pml_ucx_module_t ompi_pml_ucx = {
 #define PML_UCX_REQ_ALLOCA() \
     ((char *)alloca(ompi_pml_ucx.request_size) + ompi_pml_ucx.request_size);
 
-typedef struct mca_pml_progress_data {
-    ucp_worker_h worker;
-    int          complete;
-} mca_pml_progress_data_t;
-
 
 static int mca_pml_ucx_send_worker_address(void)
 {
@@ -392,27 +387,19 @@ static void mca_pml_ucx_waitall(void **reqs, size_t *count_p)
     *count_p = 0;
 }
 
-static void *mca_pml_async_ucx_progress(void *arg)
+static void mca_pml_fence_complete_cb(int status, void *fenced)
 {
-    mca_pml_progress_data_t *data = arg;
-
-    while (!data->complete) {
-        ucp_worker_progress(data->worker);
-    }
-    return NULL;
+    *(int*)fenced = 1;
 }
 
 int mca_pml_ucx_del_procs(struct ompi_proc_t **procs, size_t nprocs)
 {
+    int fenced = 0;
     ompi_proc_t *proc;
     size_t num_reqs, max_reqs;
     void *dreq, **dreqs;
     ucp_ep_h ep;
     size_t i;
-    ucs_status_t ret;
-    pthread_t progress_thr;
-    mca_pml_progress_data_t progress_data;
-    int thread_err;
 
     max_reqs = ompi_pml_ucx.num_disconnect;
     if (max_reqs > nprocs) {
@@ -459,25 +446,10 @@ int mca_pml_ucx_del_procs(struct ompi_proc_t **procs, size_t nprocs)
      * finalize gracefully */
     ucp_worker_flush(ompi_pml_ucx.ucp_worker);
 
-    /* Some peers may be in active communication phase and
-     * require progress from current process. Unfortunately
-     * PMIX could not provide progress call during Fence, and
-     * we will create own progress thread for UCX */
-    progress_data.worker   = ompi_pml_ucx.ucp_worker;
-    progress_data.complete = 0;
+    opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, 0, mca_pml_fence_complete_cb, &fenced);
 
-    thread_err = pthread_create(&progress_thr, NULL, mca_pml_async_ucx_progress,
-                                &progress_data);
-    if (thread_err) {
-        PML_UCX_ERROR("Failed to create async progress thread: %d", thread_err);
-    }
-
-    opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
-
-    /* All peers are completed comunication. Let's stop progress thread */
-    if (!thread_err) {
-        progress_data.complete = 1;
-        pthread_join(progress_thr, NULL);
+    while (!fenced) {
+        ucp_worker_progress(ompi_pml_ucx.ucp_worker);
     }
 
     return OMPI_SUCCESS;