diff --git a/plugins/elements/gstdownloadbuffer.c b/plugins/elements/gstdownloadbuffer.c
index 335dc5436a..36455ac246 100644
--- a/plugins/elements/gstdownloadbuffer.c
+++ b/plugins/elements/gstdownloadbuffer.c
@@ -1250,6 +1250,7 @@ out_seeking:
   }
 write_error:
   {
+    GST_DOWNLOAD_BUFFER_MUTEX_UNLOCK (dlbuf);
     gst_buffer_unmap (buffer, &info);
     gst_buffer_unref (buffer);
     GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (dlbuf, RESOURCE, WRITE,