diff --git a/rpc/rpc.go b/rpc/rpc.go
index d31fe5d3..72805baa 100644
--- a/rpc/rpc.go
+++ b/rpc/rpc.go
@@ -1000,39 +1000,41 @@ func (c *Conn) handleReturn(ctx context.Context, ret rpccp.Return, release capnp
 			release()
 		}
 
-		// Send disembargoes.  Failing to send one of these just never lifts
-		// the embargo on our side, but doesn't cause a leak.
-		//
-		// TODO(soon): make embargo resolve to error client.
-		for _, s := range pr.disembargoes {
-			c.sendMessage(ctx, s.buildDisembargo, func(err error) {
+		syncutil.With(&c.lk, func() {
+			// Send disembargoes.  Failing to send one of these just never lifts
+			// the embargo on our side, but doesn't cause a leak.
+			//
+			// TODO(soon): make embargo resolve to error client.
+			for _, s := range pr.disembargoes {
+				c.sendMessage(ctx, s.buildDisembargo, func(err error) {
+					if err != nil {
+						err = fmt.Errorf("incoming return: send disembargo: %w", err)
+						c.er.ReportError(err)
+					}
+				})
+			}
+
+			// Send finish.
+			c.sendMessage(ctx, func(m rpccp.Message) error {
+				fin, err := m.NewFinish()
+				if err == nil {
+					fin.SetQuestionId(uint32(qid))
+					fin.SetReleaseResultCaps(false)
+				}
+				return err
+			}, func(err error) {
+				c.lk.Lock()
+				defer c.lk.Unlock()
+				defer close(q.finishMsgSend)
+
 				if err != nil {
-					err = fmt.Errorf("incoming return: send disembargo: %w", err)
+					err = fmt.Errorf("incoming return: send finish: build message: %w", err)
 					c.er.ReportError(err)
+				} else {
+					q.flags |= finishSent
+					c.lk.questionID.remove(uint32(qid))
 				}
 			})
-		}
-
-		// Send finish.
-		c.sendMessage(ctx, func(m rpccp.Message) error {
-			fin, err := m.NewFinish()
-			if err == nil {
-				fin.SetQuestionId(uint32(qid))
-				fin.SetReleaseResultCaps(false)
-			}
-			return err
-		}, func(err error) {
-			c.lk.Lock()
-			defer c.lk.Unlock()
-			defer close(q.finishMsgSend)
-
-			if err != nil {
-				err = fmt.Errorf("incoming return: send finish: build message: %w", err)
-				c.er.ReportError(err)
-			} else {
-				q.flags |= finishSent
-				c.lk.questionID.remove(uint32(qid))
-			}
 		})
 	}()