diff --git a/src/db/dbNotify.c b/src/db/dbNotify.c
index a879619c1..e389fcd92 100644
--- a/src/db/dbNotify.c
+++ b/src/db/dbNotify.c
@@ -188,11 +188,13 @@ STATIC void callUser(dbCommon *precord,putNotify *ppn)
     if(pputNotifyPvt->cancelWait) {
         pputNotifyPvt->cancelWait = 0;
         epicsEventSignal(pputNotifyPvt->cancelEvent);
+        epicsMutexUnlock(pnotifyGlobal->lock);
         return;
     }
     assert(pputNotifyPvt->userCallbackWait);
     pputNotifyPvt->userCallbackWait = 0;
     epicsEventSignal(pputNotifyPvt->userCallbackEvent);
+    epicsMutexUnlock(pnotifyGlobal->lock);
     return;
 }