diff --git a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
index 68e967dd7c..ea64f68198 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
@@ -1294,6 +1294,10 @@ get_pmutex(
 				ldap_pvt_thread_yield();
 		}
 	}
+	if ( si->si_ctype < 0 ) {
+		ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &si->si_cookieState->cs_pmutex );
+		return SYNC_SHUTDOWN;
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }