diff --git a/hif/src/ce/ce_service.c b/hif/src/ce/ce_service.c
index 3e844cc..a7d5cef 100644
--- a/hif/src/ce/ce_service.c
+++ b/hif/src/ce/ce_service.c
@@ -2103,7 +2103,7 @@
 					   HOST_IS_COPY_COMPLETE_MASK);
 		} else {
 			HIF_ERROR("%s: target access is not allowed", __func__);
-			return CE_state->receive_count;
+			goto unlock_end;
 		}
 	}