diff --git a/transport/http2_client.go b/transport/http2_client.go
index 17a15a00a9ba..8460ea1e056c 100644
--- a/transport/http2_client.go
+++ b/transport/http2_client.go
@@ -1298,9 +1298,9 @@ func (t *http2Client) keepalive() {
 			// Check if keepalive should go dormant.
 			t.mu.Lock()
 			if len(t.activeStreams) < 1 && !t.kp.PermitWithoutStream {
+				t.mu.Unlock()
 				// Make awakenKeepalive writable.
 				<-t.awakenKeepalive
-				t.mu.Unlock()
 				select {
 				case <-t.awakenKeepalive:
 					// If the control gets here a ping has been sent