diff --git a/repos/base/src/lib/base/mutex.cc b/repos/base/src/lib/base/mutex.cc
index f7a8c2315e..3c82e9de9e 100644
--- a/repos/base/src/lib/base/mutex.cc
+++ b/repos/base/src/lib/base/mutex.cc
@@ -17,16 +17,17 @@
 
 void Genode::Mutex::acquire()
 {
-	Lock::Applicant myself(Thread::myself());
-	if (_lock.lock_owner(myself))
-		Genode::error("deadlock ahead, mutex=", this, ", return ip=",
-			      __builtin_return_address(0));
-
-	while (1)
+	while (1) {
 		try {
+			Lock::Applicant myself(Thread::myself());
+			if (_lock.lock_owner(myself))
+				Genode::error("deadlock ahead, mutex=", this, ", return ip=",
+					      __builtin_return_address(0));
+
 			_lock.Cancelable_lock::lock(myself);
 			return;
 		} catch (Blocking_canceled) { }
+	}
 }
 
 void Genode::Mutex::release()