diff --git a/sys/dev/cxgb/cxgb_main.c b/sys/dev/cxgb/cxgb_main.c
index eeb61d40b01..59e7fec8eed 100644
--- a/sys/dev/cxgb/cxgb_main.c
+++ b/sys/dev/cxgb/cxgb_main.c
@@ -2078,6 +2078,8 @@ fail:
 			p->if_flags = ifp->if_flags;
 		} else if (ifp->if_drv_flags & IFF_DRV_RUNNING)
 			error = cxgb_uninit_locked(p);
+		else
+			ADAPTER_UNLOCK(sc);
 
 		ADAPTER_LOCK_ASSERT_NOTOWNED(sc);
 		break;