diff --git a/kernel/kmod.c b/kernel/kmod.c
index c6a4f8a..de27e15 100644
--- a/kernel/kmod.c
+++ b/kernel/kmod.c
@@ -468,8 +468,10 @@ int call_usermodehelper_exec(struct subprocess_info *sub_info,
 	sub_info->wait = wait;
 
 	queue_work(khelper_wq, &sub_info->work);
-	if (wait == UMH_NO_WAIT) /* task has freed sub_info */
+	if (wait == UMH_NO_WAIT) { /* task has freed sub_info */
+		helper_unlock();
 		return 0;
+	}
 	wait_for_completion(&done);
 	retval = sub_info->retval;