diff --git a/nodepool/launcher.py b/nodepool/launcher.py
index f91b1f6db..7a8faf2e9 100644
--- a/nodepool/launcher.py
+++ b/nodepool/launcher.py
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ class CleanupWorker(BaseCleanupWorker):
 
                 # Double check the state now that we have a lock since it
                 # may have changed on us.
-                if node.state != zk.READY:
+                if node.state != zk.READY or node.allocated_to:
                     zk_conn.unlockNode(node)
                     continue