diff --git a/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/ram_file_system.h b/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/ram_file_system.h
index dab6a7922..5f903885c 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/ram_file_system.h
+++ b/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/ram_file_system.h
@@ -887,8 +887,8 @@ class Vfs::Ram_file_system : public Vfs::File_system
 
 			Node *node = parent->child(basename(path));
 			if (!node) return UNLINK_ERR_NO_ENTRY;
+			Node::Guard node_guard(node);
 
-			node->acquire();
 			parent->release(node);
 			node->notify();
 			parent->notify();