diff --git a/src/kdeinitinterface.cpp b/src/kdeinitinterface.cpp
--- a/src/kdeinitinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/kdeinitinterface.cpp
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@
     qCDebug(KDBUSADDONS_LOG) << "klauncher not running... launching kdeinit";
 
     QLockFile lock(QDir::tempPath() + QLatin1Char('/') + QLatin1String("startkdeinitlock"));
-    if (!lock.tryLock()) {
-        lock.lock();
+    if (lock.tryLock()) {
         if (dbusDaemon->isServiceRegistered(QStringLiteral("org.kde.klauncher5"))) {
             return;    // whoever held the lock has already started it
         }
+        lock.unlock();
     }
     // Try to launch kdeinit.
     QString srv = QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("kdeinit5"));