diff --git a/drivers/media/tuners/xc4000.c b/drivers/media/tuners/xc4000.c
index ef9af052007c..849df4d1c573 100644
--- a/drivers/media/tuners/xc4000.c
+++ b/drivers/media/tuners/xc4000.c
@@ -1517,10 +1517,10 @@ static int xc4000_get_frequency(struct dvb_frontend *fe, u32 *freq)
 {
 	struct xc4000_priv *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
 
+	mutex_lock(&priv->lock);
 	*freq = priv->freq_hz + priv->freq_offset;
 
 	if (debug) {
-		mutex_lock(&priv->lock);
 		if ((priv->cur_fw.type
 		     & (BASE | FM | DTV6 | DTV7 | DTV78 | DTV8)) == BASE) {
 			u16	snr = 0;
@@ -1531,8 +1531,8 @@ static int xc4000_get_frequency(struct dvb_frontend *fe, u32 *freq)
 				return 0;
 			}
 		}
-		mutex_unlock(&priv->lock);
 	}
+	mutex_unlock(&priv->lock);
 
 	dprintk(1, "%s()\n", __func__);