diff --git a/src/ui/inputwin.c b/src/ui/inputwin.c
index b3629861..6e98af02 100644
--- a/src/ui/inputwin.c
+++ b/src/ui/inputwin.c
@@ -182,7 +182,13 @@ inp_readline(void)
 {
     // UI is suspended
     if (is_suspended || isendwin()) {
+        // Mirror the normal-path unlock/sleep/lock so worker threads
+        // (http_upload / http_download / ai_client) can acquire `lock`
+        // during the editor session — otherwise the main thread holds
+        // it continuously and every in-flight transfer freezes.
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock);
         g_usleep(100000); // 100ms
+        pthread_mutex_lock(&lock);
         return NULL;
     }