diff --git a/sql/rpl_reporting.cc b/sql/rpl_reporting.cc
index c4764873b30..91339444952 100644
--- a/sql/rpl_reporting.cc
+++ b/sql/rpl_reporting.cc
@@ -154,7 +176,9 @@ Slave_reporting_capability::va_report(loglevel level, int err_code,
     break;
   default:
     DBUG_ASSERT(0);                            // should not come here
-    return;          // don't crash production builds, just do nothing
+    // don't crash production builds, just do nothing
+    mysql_mutex_unlock(&err_lock);
+    return;
   }
   curr_buff= pbuff;
   if (prefix_msg)