diff --git a/fetch.c b/fetch.c
index ae92d52..cc6013e 100644
--- a/fetch.c
+++ b/fetch.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
 
 int pull(char *target)
 {
-	struct ref_lock *lock;
+	struct ref_lock *lock = NULL;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	char *msg;
 	int ret;
@@ -223,15 +223,18 @@
 
 	if (interpret_target(target, sha1)) {
 		error("Could not interpret %s as something to pull", target);
-		unlock_ref(lock);
+		if (lock)
+			unlock_ref(lock);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	if (process(lookup_unknown_object(sha1))) {
-		unlock_ref(lock);
+		if (lock)
+			unlock_ref(lock);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	if (loop()) {
-		unlock_ref(lock);
+		if (lock)
+			unlock_ref(lock);
 		return -1;
 	}