diff --git a/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c b/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
index d6c382735902..eaabe901b3cb 100644
--- a/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
+++ b/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
@@ -793,6 +793,7 @@ add_route_flags(struct rib_head *rnh, struct rtentry *rt, struct route_nhop_data
 	if (op_flags & RTM_F_REPLACE) {
 		if (nhop_get_prio(rnd_orig.rnd_nhop) > nhop_get_prio(rnd_add->rnd_nhop)) {
 			/* Old path is "better" (e.g. has PINNED flag set) */
+			RIB_WUNLOCK(rnh);
 			error = EEXIST;
 			goto out;
 		}