diff --git a/src/libipc/platform/posix/mutex.h b/src/libipc/platform/posix/mutex.h
index 0df842b..8a4ac5f 100644
--- a/src/libipc/platform/posix/mutex.h
+++ b/src/libipc/platform/posix/mutex.h
@@ -150,6 +150,17 @@ public:
 
     void close() noexcept {
         if ((ref_ != nullptr) && (shm_ != nullptr) && (mutex_ != nullptr)) {
+            // Try to unlock the mutex before destroying it.
+            // This is important for robust mutexes on FreeBSD, which maintain
+            // a per-thread robust list. If we destroy a mutex while it's in
+            // the robust list (even if not locked), FreeBSD may encounter
+            // dangling pointers later, leading to segfaults.
+            // We ignore any errors from unlock() since:
+            // 1. If we don't hold the lock, EPERM is expected and harmless
+            // 2. If the mutex is already unlocked, this is a no-op
+            // 3. If there's an error, we still want to proceed with cleanup
+            ::pthread_mutex_unlock(mutex_);
+            
             if (shm_->name() != nullptr) {
                 release_mutex(shm_->name(), [this] {
                     auto self_ref = ref_->fetch_sub(1, std::memory_order_relaxed);
@@ -171,6 +182,9 @@ public:
 
     void clear() noexcept {
         if ((shm_ != nullptr) && (mutex_ != nullptr)) {
+            // Try to unlock before destroying, same reasoning as in close()
+            ::pthread_mutex_unlock(mutex_);
+            
             if (shm_->name() != nullptr) {
                 release_mutex(shm_->name(), [this] {
                     int eno;