diff --git a/components/wifi_provisioning/src/manager.c b/components/wifi_provisioning/src/manager.c
index c36b3a8a00..9243aea187 100644
--- a/components/wifi_provisioning/src/manager.c
+++ b/components/wifi_provisioning/src/manager.c
@@ -942,6 +942,7 @@ esp_err_t wifi_prov_mgr_wifi_scan_start(bool blocking, bool passive,
 
     if (esp_wifi_scan_start(&prov_ctx->scan_cfg, false) != ESP_OK) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to start scan");
+        RELEASE_LOCK(prov_ctx_lock);
         return ESP_FAIL;
     }