diff --git a/breacharbiter_test.go b/breacharbiter_test.go
index e6eee250..01d9daf7 100644
--- a/breacharbiter_test.go
+++ b/breacharbiter_test.go
@@ -1372,11 +1372,12 @@ func testBreachSpends(t *testing.T, test breachTest) {
 	// Make PublishTransaction always return ErrDoubleSpend to begin with.
 	publErr = lnwallet.ErrDoubleSpend
 	brar.cfg.PublishTransaction = func(tx *wire.MsgTx, _ string) error {
+		publMtx.Lock()
+		err := publErr
+		publMtx.Unlock()
 		publTx <- tx
 
-		publMtx.Lock()
-		defer publMtx.Unlock()
-		return publErr
+		return err
 	}
 
 	// Notify the breach arbiter about the breach.