diff --git a/exec.c b/exec.c
index 604f03c535..a9181e6417 100644
--- a/exec.c
+++ b/exec.c
@@ -3393,7 +3393,6 @@ static bool flatview_access_valid(FlatView *fv, hwaddr addr, int len,
         if (!memory_access_is_direct(mr, is_write)) {
             l = memory_access_size(mr, l, addr);
             if (!memory_region_access_valid(mr, xlat, l, is_write)) {
-                rcu_read_unlock();
                 return false;
             }
         }