diff --git a/kernel/syscall/ioctl.c b/kernel/syscall/ioctl.c
index f5b5ba7..c693f07 100644
--- a/kernel/syscall/ioctl.c
+++ b/kernel/syscall/ioctl.c
@@ -43,16 +43,15 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_ioctl, ioh1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
       }
 
       spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
-
       Proc *proc = PROCS.current;
+      spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
+
       if (proc->vobjcnt < PROC_VFSHANDLES_MAX) {
         proc->vobjs[proc->vobjcnt++] = vobj;
         ret = proc->vobjcnt - 1;
       } else {
         ret = E_NOMEMORY;
       }
-
-      spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
     } break;
     case IOCTL_CLOSEF: {
       if (ioh >= PROC_VFSHANDLES_MAX) {
@@ -62,9 +61,10 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_ioctl, ioh1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
 
       spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
       Proc *proc = PROCS.current;
-      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
       spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
 
+      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
+
       if (vobj == NULL) {
         ret = E_INVALIDARGUMENT;
         goto done;
@@ -101,8 +101,9 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_ioctl, ioh1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
 
       spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
       Proc *proc = PROCS.current;
-      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
       spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
+      
+      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
 
       if (vobj == NULL) {
         ret = E_INVALIDARGUMENT;
@@ -131,9 +132,10 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_ioctl, ioh1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
 
       spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
       Proc *proc = PROCS.current;
-      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
       spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
 
+      VfsObj *vobj = proc->vobjs[ioh];
+
       if (vobj == NULL) {
         ret = E_INVALIDARGUMENT;
         goto done;
diff --git a/kernel/syscall/processctl.c b/kernel/syscall/processctl.c
index 6daef58..3073c53 100644
--- a/kernel/syscall/processctl.c
+++ b/kernel/syscall/processctl.c
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_processctl, pid1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
   uint64_t pid = pid1;
   uint64_t cmd = cmd1;
   int32_t ret = E_OK;
-
-  spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
-
+  
   if (pid == PID_SELF_MAGIC) {
     pid = PROCS.current->pid;
   }
 
+  spinlock_acquire(&PROCS.spinlock);
   Proc *proc = NULL;
   LL_FINDPROP(PROCS.procs, proc, pid, pid);
+  spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
 
   if (proc == NULL) {
     ret = E_INVALIDARGUMENT;
@@ -31,15 +31,12 @@ int32_t SYSCALL3(sys_processctl, pid1, cmd1, optsptr1) {
     case PCTL_KILL: {
       proc_kill(proc);
       ret = E_DOSCHEDULING;
-      goto done;
     } break;
     default: {
       ret = E_INVALIDARGUMENT;
-      goto done;
     } break;
   }
 
 done:
-  spinlock_release(&PROCS.spinlock);
   return ret;
 }