diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
index cd5a565bc3a0abd3beb585e1dce0b97b98a5a18e..185c093a85915626639bafae473a9542abc3c9c2 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ static int iTCO_wdt_start(void)
 
 	/* disable chipset's NO_REBOOT bit */
 	if (iTCO_wdt_unset_NO_REBOOT_bit()) {
+		spin_unlock(&iTCO_wdt_private.io_lock);
 		printk(KERN_ERR PFX "failed to reset NO_REBOOT flag, reboot disabled by hardware\n");
 		return -EIO;
 	}