diff --git a/repos/base/include/base/cancelable_lock.h b/repos/base/include/base/cancelable_lock.h
index 8bb30ab18..5c956de94 100644
--- a/repos/base/include/base/cancelable_lock.h
+++ b/repos/base/include/base/cancelable_lock.h
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ class Genode::Cancelable_lock
 
 		Applicant _owner;
 
-		bool lock_owner(Applicant &myself) { return _owner == myself; }
+		bool lock_owner(Applicant &myself) {
+			return (_state == LOCKED) && (_owner == myself); }
+
 		void lock(Applicant &);
 
 	public: