diff --git a/arch/ia64/sn/kernel/mca.c b/arch/ia64/sn/kernel/mca.c
index 3db62f24596c..868c9aa64fe2 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/sn/kernel/mca.c
+++ b/arch/ia64/sn/kernel/mca.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ sn_platform_plat_specific_err_print(const u8 * sect_header, u8 ** oemdata,
 	while (*sn_oemdata_size > sn_oemdata_bufsize) {
 		u8 *newbuf = vmalloc(*sn_oemdata_size);
 		if (!newbuf) {
+			mutex_unlock(&sn_oemdata_mutex);
 			printk(KERN_ERR "%s: unable to extend sn_oemdata\n",
 			       __FUNCTION__);
 			return 1;