diff --git a/drivers/tty/pty.c b/drivers/tty/pty.c
index 00099a8439d2..c6a1d8c4e689 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/pty.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/pty.c
@@ -120,10 +120,10 @@ static int pty_write(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf, int c)
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&to->port->lock, flags);
 		/* Stuff the data into the input queue of the other end */
 		c = tty_insert_flip_string(to->port, buf, c);
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&to->port->lock, flags);
 		/* And shovel */
 		if (c)
 			tty_flip_buffer_push(to->port);
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&to->port->lock, flags);
 	}
 	return c;
 }