diff --git a/servers/slapd/connection.c b/servers/slapd/connection.c
index 514eae4be9..1844ad3aaf 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/connection.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/connection.c
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ static Connection* connection_get( int s )
 				"connection_get(%d): connection not used.\n",
 				s, c->c_connid, 0 );
 
+			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
 			return NULL;
 		}