diff --git a/src/image/ImageManagerDriver.cc b/src/image/ImageManagerDriver.cc
index 3e2b5baaae..960ed41080 100644
--- a/src/image/ImageManagerDriver.cc
+++ b/src/image/ImageManagerDriver.cc
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ void ImageManagerDriver::protocol(
 
         if ( rc < 0 )
         {
+            image->unlock();
             NebulaLog::log("ImM",Log::ERROR,"Image could not be removed from DB");
         }