diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index 8600d6aba..bbd774f0c 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.12 -
 ===================================
+  Fall back to internal locking if external locking lib is missing or fails.
   Retain activation state after changing LV minor number with --force.
   Propagate clustered flag in vgsplit and require resizeable flag.
 
diff --git a/lib/locking/locking.c b/lib/locking/locking.c
index 25065d4d0..11982d58a 100644
--- a/lib/locking/locking.c
+++ b/lib/locking/locking.c
@@ -144,18 +144,18 @@ int init_locking(int type, struct cmd_context *cmd)
 	case 2:
 		if (!cmd->is_static) {
 			log_very_verbose("External locking selected.");
-			if (!init_external_locking(&_locking, cmd))
-				break;
-			return 1;
+			if (init_external_locking(&_locking, cmd))
+				return 1;
 		}
 		if (!find_config_tree_int(cmd, "locking/fallback_to_clustered_locking",
 					  DEFAULT_FALLBACK_TO_CLUSTERED_LOCKING))
 			break;
-		log_very_verbose("Falling back to clustered locking.");
-		/* Fall through */
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CLUSTER_LOCKING_INTERNAL
+		log_very_verbose("Falling back to internal clustered locking.");
+		/* Fall through */
+
 	case 3:
 		log_very_verbose("Cluster locking selected.");
 		if (!init_cluster_locking(&_locking, cmd))