diff --git a/drivers/iio/frequency/ad9523.c b/drivers/iio/frequency/ad9523.c
index 7272924484c1..832e6ab26114 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/frequency/ad9523.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/frequency/ad9523.c
@@ -731,10 +731,12 @@ static int ad9523_reg_access(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
 	} else {
 		ret = ad9523_read(indio_dev, reg | AD9523_R1B);
 		if (ret < 0)
-			return ret;
+			goto out_unlock;
 		*readval = ret;
 		ret = 0;
 	}
+
+out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&indio_dev->mlock);
 
 	return ret;