diff --git a/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-eddsa.c b/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-eddsa.c
index 1280459f1..665622552 100644
--- a/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-eddsa.c
+++ b/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-eddsa.c
@@ -637,8 +637,8 @@ handle_sign_request (const struct sockaddr_un *addr,
   GNUNET_CONTAINER_DLL_insert (work_head,
                                work_tail,
                                wi);
-  GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_mutex_unlock (&work_lock));
   GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_cond_signal (&work_cond));
+  GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_mutex_unlock (&work_lock));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-rsa.c b/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-rsa.c
index 27d3d7a96..742175c09 100644
--- a/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-rsa.c
+++ b/src/util/taler-exchange-secmod-rsa.c
@@ -710,8 +710,8 @@ handle_sign_request (const struct sockaddr_un *addr,
   GNUNET_CONTAINER_DLL_insert (work_head,
                                work_tail,
                                wi);
-  GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_mutex_unlock (&work_lock));
   GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_cond_signal (&work_cond));
+  GNUNET_assert (0 == pthread_mutex_unlock (&work_lock));
 }