diff --git a/drivers/char/n_tty.c b/drivers/char/n_tty.c
index 19105ec203f7..8096389b0dc2 100644
--- a/drivers/char/n_tty.c
+++ b/drivers/char/n_tty.c
@@ -282,16 +282,20 @@ static int opost(unsigned char c, struct tty_struct *tty)
 			if (O_ONLRET(tty))
 				tty->column = 0;
 			if (O_ONLCR(tty)) {
-				if (space < 2)
+				if (space < 2) {
+					unlock_kernel();
 					return -1;
+				}
 				tty_put_char(tty, '\r');
 				tty->column = 0;
 			}
 			tty->canon_column = tty->column;
 			break;
 		case '\r':
-			if (O_ONOCR(tty) && tty->column == 0)
+			if (O_ONOCR(tty) && tty->column == 0) {
+				unlock_kernel();
 				return 0;
+			}
 			if (O_OCRNL(tty)) {
 				c = '\n';
 				if (O_ONLRET(tty))
@@ -303,10 +307,13 @@ static int opost(unsigned char c, struct tty_struct *tty)
 		case '\t':
 			spaces = 8 - (tty->column & 7);
 			if (O_TABDLY(tty) == XTABS) {
-				if (space < spaces)
+				if (space < spaces) {
+					unlock_kernel();
 					return -1;
+				}
 				tty->column += spaces;
 				tty->ops->write(tty, "        ", spaces);
+				unlock_kernel();
 				return 0;
 			}
 			tty->column += spaces;