diff --git a/storage/blockexchange/network/network.nim b/storage/blockexchange/network/network.nim
index 4a08f203..95870595 100644
--- a/storage/blockexchange/network/network.nim
+++ b/storage/blockexchange/network/network.nim
@@ -107,16 +107,17 @@ proc send*(
     let peer = b.peers[id]
 
     await b.inflightSema.acquire()
-    await peer.send(msg)
+    try:
+      await peer.send(msg)
+    finally:
+      try:
+        b.inflightSema.release()
+      except AsyncSemaphoreError as err:
+        error "Failed to release semaphore", msg = err.msg
   except CancelledError as error:
     raise error
   except CatchableError as err:
     error "Error sending message", peer = id, msg = err.msg
-  finally:
-    try:
-      b.inflightSema.release()
-    except AsyncSemaphoreError as err:
-      error "Failed to release semaphore", msg = err.msg
 
 proc handleWantList(
     b: BlockExcNetwork, peer: NetworkPeer, list: WantList