diff --git a/docs/changelog/83645.yaml b/docs/changelog/83645.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..8c1dd88c285e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/83645.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+pr: 83645
+summary: Fix submit after shutdown in process worker service
+area: Machine Learning
+type: bug
+issues:
+ - 83633
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/process/ProcessWorkerExecutorService.java b/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/process/ProcessWorkerExecutorService.java
index 90773fccdbc9c..43646f5f33616 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/process/ProcessWorkerExecutorService.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ml/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/process/ProcessWorkerExecutorService.java
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ public synchronized void execute(Runnable command) {
             EsRejectedExecutionException rejected = new EsRejectedExecutionException(processName + " worker service has shutdown", true);
             if (command instanceof AbstractRunnable runnable) {
                 runnable.onRejection(rejected);
+                return;
             } else {
                 throw rejected;
             }