diff --git a/llm/dyn_ext_server.go b/llm/dyn_ext_server.go
index f1b14ce7..2da2bb96 100644
--- a/llm/dyn_ext_server.go
+++ b/llm/dyn_ext_server.go
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ func newDynExtServer(library, model string, adapters, projectors []string, opts
 	defer freeExtServerResp(initResp)
 	C.dyn_llama_server_init(llm.s, &sparams, &initResp)
 	if initResp.id < 0 {
+		mutex.Unlock()
 		return nil, extServerResponseToErr(initResp)
 	}