diff --git a/syscall/msg.c b/syscall/msg.c
index 3acfa94..4c59bfb 100644
--- a/syscall/msg.c
+++ b/syscall/msg.c
@@ -240,12 +240,12 @@ kern_status_t sys_msg_send(
 		port_handle,
 		&port_obj,
 		&port_handle_flags);
+	task_unlock_irqrestore(self, flags);
+
 	if (status != KERN_OK) {
 		return status;
 	}
 
-	task_unlock_irqrestore(self, flags);
-
 	struct port *port = port_cast(port_obj);
 	if (!port) {
 		object_unref(port_obj);