diff --git a/extern/sector-storage/sched_worker.go b/extern/sector-storage/sched_worker.go
index 573aa623b..40cf2fcf4 100644
--- a/extern/sector-storage/sched_worker.go
+++ b/extern/sector-storage/sched_worker.go
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ func (sh *scheduler) runWorker(ctx context.Context, w Worker) error {
 		log.Warnw("duplicated worker added", "id", wid)
 
 		// this is ok, we're already handling this worker in a different goroutine
+		sh.workersLk.Unlock()
 		return nil
 	}