diff --git a/util/oslib-posix.c b/util/oslib-posix.c
index 9efdc74bba..ac0dbc2adc 100644
--- a/util/oslib-posix.c
+++ b/util/oslib-posix.c
@@ -683,6 +683,7 @@ void os_mem_prealloc(int fd, char *area, size_t memory, int smp_cpus,
 
         ret = sigaction(SIGBUS, &act, &sigbus_oldact);
         if (ret) {
+            qemu_mutex_unlock(&sigbus_mutex);
             error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
                 "os_mem_prealloc: failed to install signal handler");
             return;