diff --git a/txnprovider/txpool/pool.go b/txnprovider/txpool/pool.go
index 5b3b64a3676..b7fba981023 100644
--- a/txnprovider/txpool/pool.go
+++ b/txnprovider/txpool/pool.go
@@ -729,6 +729,8 @@ func (p *TxPool) best(ctx context.Context, n int, txns *TxnsRlp, onTopOf uint64,
 	for last := p.lastSeenBlock.Load(); last < onTopOf; last = p.lastSeenBlock.Load() {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
+			// Leaving with the lock held would stop every later pool operation, not just this one.
+			p.lock.Unlock()
 			return false, 0, ctx.Err()
 		default:
 			// continue
diff --git a/txnprovider/txpool/pool_best_lock_test.go b/txnprovider/txpool/pool_best_lock_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b71ea6bce1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/txnprovider/txpool/pool_best_lock_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Erigon Authors
+// This file is part of Erigon.
+//
+// Erigon is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Erigon is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with Erigon. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package txpool
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	mapset "github.com/deckarep/golang-set/v2"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	mdgas "github.com/erigontech/erigon/execution/protocol/mdgas"
+)
+
+func TestBestReleasesTheLockWhenTheCallerGivesUpWaitingForABlock(t *testing.T) {
+	lock := &sync.Mutex{}
+	p := &TxPool{lock: lock, lastSeenCond: sync.NewCond(lock)}
+
+	// The requested block has not been seen, so the wait loop is entered, and the caller is already
+	// gone by the time it checks.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+	cancel()
+
+	_, _, err := p.best(ctx, 1, &TxnsRlp{}, 1, mdgas.FullMdGas{}, mapset.NewSet[[32]byte](), 0)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.Canceled)
+
+	// Returning with the lock still held blocks every later pool operation, including the block
+	// updates that would have let this caller through, so nothing recovers on its own.
+	require.True(t, p.lock.TryLock(), "best returned holding the pool lock")
+	p.lock.Unlock()
+}