diff --git a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd_keystate.c b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd_keystate.c
index 6276e0ea3..dc70fdba4 100644
--- a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd_keystate.c
+++ b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd_keystate.c
@@ -685,6 +685,7 @@ TMH_KS_acquire_ (const char *location)
     {
       GNUNET_log (GNUNET_ERROR_TYPE_ERROR,
                   "Have no signing key. Bad configuration.\n");
+      GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_mutex_unlock (&internal_key_state_mutex));
       return NULL;
     }