diff --git a/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/FileLockNodeManager.java b/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/FileLockNodeManager.java
index 67f469ce3a..75411490be 100644
--- a/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/FileLockNodeManager.java
+++ b/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/FileLockNodeManager.java
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ public class FileLockNodeManager extends FileBasedNodeManager {
                result = bb.get(0);
             }
          } finally {
-            if (lock != null) {
+            if (lock != null && lock.isValid()) {
                lock.release();
             }
          }