diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
index f53e8ba2c718..83c206f0fc98 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ static void start_event_fetch(struct ssif_info *ssif_info, unsigned long *flags)
 	msg = ipmi_alloc_smi_msg();
 	if (!msg) {
 		ssif_info->ssif_state = SSIF_NORMAL;
+		ipmi_ssif_unlock_cond(ssif_info, flags);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -431,6 +432,7 @@ static void start_recv_msg_fetch(struct ssif_info *ssif_info,
 	msg = ipmi_alloc_smi_msg();
 	if (!msg) {
 		ssif_info->ssif_state = SSIF_NORMAL;
+		ipmi_ssif_unlock_cond(ssif_info, flags);
 		return;
 	}