diff --git a/src/networking.cpp b/src/networking.cpp
index 0c70922cd..4f737ec8e 100644
--- a/src/networking.cpp
+++ b/src/networking.cpp
@@ -1546,7 +1546,6 @@ int writeToClient(int fd, client *c, int handler_installed) {
             }
             else
             {
-                lock.unlock();
                 freeClientAsync(c);
             }
             return C_ERR;