diff --git a/server/modules/routing/binlog/blr_file.c b/server/modules/routing/binlog/blr_file.c
index 36b0996ae..907c9397e 100644
--- a/server/modules/routing/binlog/blr_file.c
+++ b/server/modules/routing/binlog/blr_file.c
@@ -596,9 +596,14 @@ blr_close_binlog(ROUTER_INSTANCE *router, BLFILE *file)
 		close(file->fd);
 		file->fd = -1;
 	}
-	spinlock_release(&file->lock);
-	if (file->refcnt == 0)
+
+	if (file->refcnt == 0) {
+		spinlock_release(&file->lock);
+
 		free(file);
+	} else {
+		spinlock_release(&file->lock);
+	}
 }
 
 /**