diff --git a/pkg/pillar/agentlog/agentlog_test.go b/pkg/pillar/agentlog/agentlog_test.go
index 0585dc3c82..0eaac1180d 100644
--- a/pkg/pillar/agentlog/agentlog_test.go
+++ b/pkg/pillar/agentlog/agentlog_test.go
@@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ func startIntegratedPSICollectorAPI() (cancel context.CancelFunc, err error) {
 		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	if !started {
+		psiServerMutex.Unlock()
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not start the server in 10 seconds")
 	}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())