diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_tty.c b/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
index d521058..cd725cc 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
@@ -351,13 +351,13 @@
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&tty->ctrl_lock, flags);
 	if (tty->link->packet) {
+		spin_lock_irqsave(&tty->ctrl_lock, flags);
 		tty->ctrl_status |= TIOCPKT_FLUSHREAD;
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tty->ctrl_lock, flags);
 		if (waitqueue_active(&tty->link->read_wait))
 			wake_up_interruptible(&tty->link->read_wait);
 	}
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tty->ctrl_lock, flags);
 }
 
 /**