diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
index 7864d71..5ceac1f 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
     error!("an instance of legacy espanso is running, please terminate it, otherwise the new version cannot start");
     return DAEMON_LEGACY_ALREADY_RUNNING;
   }
+  drop(legacy_lock_file);
 
   // TODO: we might need to check preconditions: accessibility on macOS, presence of binaries on Linux, etc
 
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
index 22855af..8f70311 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
     error!("an instance of legacy espanso is running, please terminate it, otherwise the new version cannot start");
     return WORKER_LEGACY_ALREADY_RUNNING;
   }
+  drop(legacy_lock_file);
 
   let config_store = args
     .config_store