diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_att.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_att.c
index ea008e43f..5e86d7fb7 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_att.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_att.c
@@ -528,6 +528,7 @@ ble_att_send_outstanding_after_response(uint16_t conn_handle)
     rc = ble_hs_misc_conn_chan_find_reqd(conn_handle, BLE_L2CAP_CID_ATT, &conn,
                                          &chan);
     if (rc) {
+        ble_hs_unlock();
         return;
     }
     conn->client_att_busy = false;