diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/containers/RecentStringInterner.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/containers/RecentStringInterner.java
index cb73a3f3d80a..e46e1b9cc563 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/containers/RecentStringInterner.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/containers/RecentStringInterner.java
@@ -82,9 +82,13 @@ public class RecentStringInterner {
 
   public void clear() {
     for(int i = 0; i < myInterns.length; ++i) {
-      myStripeLocks[i].lock();
-      myInterns[i].clear();
-      myStripeLocks[i].unlock();
+      try {
+        myStripeLocks[i].lock();
+        myInterns[i].clear();
+      }
+      finally {
+        myStripeLocks[i].unlock();
+      }
     }
   }
 }