diff --git a/listener.c b/listener.c
index 2af14e3a..2862d32e 100644
--- a/listener.c
+++ b/listener.c
@@ -442,6 +442,7 @@ listener_read_cb(evutil_socket_t fd, short what, void *p)
 		listener_decref_and_unlock(lev);
 	} else {
 		event_sock_warn(fd, "Error from accept() call");
+		UNLOCK(lev);
 	}
 }