diff --git a/contracts/src/test_utils.rs b/contracts/src/test_utils.rs
index b37d405e..24ea6d39 100644
--- a/contracts/src/test_utils.rs
+++ b/contracts/src/test_utils.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub(crate) static STORAGE_MUTEX: Mutex<()> = Mutex::new(());
 
 /// Acquires access to storage.
 pub(crate) fn acquire_storage() -> MutexGuard<'static, ()> {
-    STORAGE_MUTEX.lock().unwrap()
+    STORAGE_MUTEX.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
 }
 
 /// Decorates a closure by running it with exclusive access to storage.