diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_exec.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_exec.c
index 6de12f91b865b..756b492f13b03 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_exec.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_exec.c
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ int xe_exec_ioctl(struct drm_device *dev, void *data, struct drm_file *file)
 			fence = xe_sync_in_fence_get(syncs, num_syncs, q, vm);
 			if (IS_ERR(fence)) {
 				err = PTR_ERR(fence);
+				xe_vm_unlock(vm);
 				goto err_unlock_list;
 			}
 			for (i = 0; i < num_syncs; i++)