diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index aaa4a3cf..afd072cd 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -2767,6 +2767,8 @@ func (s *server) OpenChannel(
 	s.mu.RLock()
 	peer, ok := s.peersByPub[string(pubKeyBytes)]
 	if !ok {
+		s.mu.RUnlock()
+
 		req.err <- fmt.Errorf("peer %x is not online", pubKeyBytes)
 		return req.updates, req.err
 	}