diff --git a/src/ca/oldAccess.h b/src/ca/oldAccess.h
index 5684b83c3..40f0aee7c 100644
--- a/src/ca/oldAccess.h
+++ b/src/ca/oldAccess.h
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ void ca_client_context :: whenThereIsAnExceptionDestroySyncGroupIO (
     }
     else {
         // dont reverse the lock hierarchy
-        epicsGuardRelease < epicsMutex > guardRelease ();
+        epicsGuardRelease < epicsMutex > guardRelease ( guard );
         {
             //
             // we will definately stall out here if all of the