diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/cache.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/cache.c
index 034301cebe..5386735fcc 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/cache.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/cache.c
@@ -553,12 +553,17 @@ try_again:
 		LRU_ADD( cache, ep );
                 
 		LEI(ep)->lei_refcnt++;
+
+		/* free cache mutex */
+		ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &cache->c_mutex );
+
+		return( ep );
 	}
 
 	/* free cache mutex */
 	ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &cache->c_mutex );
 
-	return( ep );
+	return( NULL );
 }
 
 /*