diff --git a/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager.go b/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager.go
index b17065c916..e67ceaba20 100644
--- a/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager.go
+++ b/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager.go
@@ -1035,6 +1035,7 @@ func (pm *taskQueuePartitionManagerImpl) describe(
 		if b == "" {
 			dbq := pm.defaultQueue()
 			if dbq == nil {
+				pm.versionedQueuesLock.RUnlock()
 				return nil, errDefaultQueueNotInit
 			}
 			versions[dbq.QueueKey().Version()] = true
diff --git a/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager_test.go b/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager_test.go
index 780f50fbc7..c1306e4e60 100644
--- a/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager_test.go
+++ b/service/matching/task_queue_partition_manager_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import (
 	taskqueuespb "go.temporal.io/server/api/taskqueue/v1"
 	hlc "go.temporal.io/server/common/clock/hybrid_logical_clock"
 	"go.temporal.io/server/common/dynamicconfig"
+	"go.temporal.io/server/common/future"
+	"go.temporal.io/server/common/log"
 	"go.temporal.io/server/common/metrics"
 	"go.temporal.io/server/common/metrics/metricstest"
 	"go.temporal.io/server/common/namespace"
@@ -71,6 +73,34 @@ func TestTaskQueuePartitionManager_Fair_Suite(t *testing.T) {
 	suite.Run(t, &PartitionManagerTestSuite{newMatcher: true, fairness: true})
 }
 
+func TestDescribeReleasesVersionedQueuesLockWhenDefaultQueueNotInitialized(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	pm := &taskQueuePartitionManagerImpl{
+		versionedQueues:    make(map[PhysicalTaskQueueVersion]physicalTaskQueueManager),
+		defaultQueueFuture: future.NewFuture[physicalTaskQueueManager](),
+		logger:             log.NewNoopLogger(),
+	}
+
+	_, err := pm.describe(context.Background(), map[string]bool{"": true}, false, false, false, false, false)
+	if !errors.Is(err, errDefaultQueueNotInit) {
+		t.Fatalf("describe() error = %v, want %v", err, errDefaultQueueNotInit)
+	}
+
+	lockAcquired := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		pm.versionedQueuesLock.Lock()
+		defer pm.versionedQueuesLock.Unlock()
+		close(lockAcquired)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-lockAcquired:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("versionedQueuesLock remained locked after describe returned")
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *PartitionManagerTestSuite) SetupTest() {
 	s.ProtoAssertions = protorequire.New(s.T())
 	s.controller = gomock.NewController(s.T())