diff --git a/lib/ns/client.c b/lib/ns/client.c
index 5a0a913efd..9900866c35 100644
--- a/lib/ns/client.c
+++ b/lib/ns/client.c
@@ -170,13 +170,11 @@ ns_client_killoldestquery(ns_client_t *client) {
 	oldest = ISC_LIST_HEAD(client->manager->recursing);
 	if (oldest != NULL) {
 		ISC_LIST_UNLINK(client->manager->recursing, oldest, rlink);
-		UNLOCK(&client->manager->reclock);
 		ns_query_cancel(oldest);
 		ns_stats_increment(client->sctx->nsstats,
 				   ns_statscounter_reclimitdropped);
-	} else {
-		UNLOCK(&client->manager->reclock);
 	}
+	UNLOCK(&client->manager->reclock);
 }
 
 void