diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/event.c b/src/libespeak-ng/event.c
index 954d4730..c1dcd1f0 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/event.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/event.c
@@ -237,9 +237,6 @@ espeak_ng_STATUS event_clear_all()
 	} else
 		init(); // clear pending events
 
-	if ((status = pthread_mutex_unlock(&my_mutex)) != ENS_OK)
-		return status;
-
 	if (a_event_is_running) {
 		while (my_stop_is_acknowledged == 0) {
 			while ((pthread_cond_wait(&my_cond_stop_is_acknowledged, &my_mutex) == -1) && errno == EINTR)
@@ -247,6 +244,9 @@ espeak_ng_STATUS event_clear_all()
 		}
 	}
 
+	if ((status = pthread_mutex_unlock(&my_mutex)) != ENS_OK)
+		return status;
+
 	return ENS_OK;
 }