diff --git a/kernel/syscall.c b/kernel/syscall.c
index 4f240651..04286eba 100644
--- a/kernel/syscall.c
+++ b/kernel/syscall.c
@@ -2612,6 +2612,7 @@ SYSCALL_DECLARE(execve)
 		sizeof(struct program_image_section) * desc->num_sections;
 
 	if ((ret = do_syscall(&request, ihk_mc_get_processor_id())) != 0) {
+		preempt_enable();
 		goto end;
 	}