diff --git a/src/ttynvt.c b/src/ttynvt.c
index 8914874..38b7781 100644
--- a/src/ttynvt.c
+++ b/src/ttynvt.c
@@ -427,7 +427,6 @@ static void ttynvt_open(fuse_req_t req, struct fuse_file_info *info)
     int             res;
     int             n;
 
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&access_lock);
 
     tty_cli = calloc(1, sizeof(ttynvt_cli_t));
     if (!tty_cli)
@@ -435,12 +434,16 @@ static void ttynvt_open(fuse_req_t req, struct fuse_file_info *info)
         fuse_reply_err(req, ENOMEM);
         return;
     }
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&access_lock);
+
     if (tty == NULL)
         tty = _ttynvt_ctx_create();
     if (!tty)
     {
         fuse_reply_err(req, ENOMEM);
         free(tty_cli);
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&access_lock);
         return;
     }