diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/health.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/health.c
index b21054514736..f42e118f3290 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/health.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/health.c
@@ -621,6 +621,7 @@ static void mlx5_fw_fatal_reporter_err_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	mutex_lock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);
 	if (test_bit(MLX5_DROP_NEW_HEALTH_WORK, &health->flags)) {
 		mlx5_core_err(dev, "health works are not permitted at this stage\n");
+		mutex_unlock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);
 		return;
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);