diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/locks/ProcessLockUtils.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/locks/ProcessLockUtils.java
index 5b736c2a..3dcc1de6 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/locks/ProcessLockUtils.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/locks/ProcessLockUtils.java
@@ -417,6 +417,12 @@ public class ProcessLockUtils
    {
       try
       {
+         if(processLock == null)
+         {
+            LOG.debug("No process lock passed in to release - returning with noop");
+            return;
+         }
+
          DeleteOutput deleteOutput = new DeleteAction().execute(new DeleteInput(ProcessLock.TABLE_NAME).withPrimaryKey(processLock.getId()));
          if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(deleteOutput.getRecordsWithErrors()))
          {