diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
index b2ab96e9fec1..c8520157dd9d 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
@@ -10892,6 +10892,9 @@ void wlan_hdd_start_sap(struct hdd_adapter *ap_adapter, bool reinit)
 		policy_mgr_incr_active_session(hdd_ctx->hdd_psoc,
 					ap_adapter->device_mode,
 					ap_adapter->session_id);
+	mutex_unlock(&hdd_ctx->sap_lock);
+
+	return;
 end:
 	mutex_unlock(&hdd_ctx->sap_lock);
 	/* SAP context and beacon cleanup will happen during driver unload