diff --git a/src/libhydra/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_ipsec.c b/src/libhydra/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_ipsec.c
index d3f3d1073..00ab3e93b 100644
--- a/src/libhydra/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_ipsec.c
+++ b/src/libhydra/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_ipsec.c
@@ -2074,6 +2074,7 @@ METHOD(kernel_ipsec_t, add_policy, status_t,
 	if (!update)
 	{	/* we don't update the policy if the priority is lower than that of the
 		 * currently installed one */
+		this->mutex->unlock(this->mutex);
 		return SUCCESS;
 	}