An improved door latch of the type having a handle movable to latch and unlatch the door. A lock is disposed in the handle and is movable to a locked position wherein the lock extends from the handle to engage the door preventing movement of the handle. A bolt extends from the side of the lock to maintain the lock in the locked position, the bolt being retracted by insertion and rotation of a key in the lock. The lock is also movable to an unlocked position wherein the lock is withdrawn from the door to permit movement of the handle. The improvement concerns a chamber having a partition which defines a first pocket to receive the extended bolt and maintain the lock in the locked position. The partition also defines a second pocket to receive the extended bolt when the lock is in the unlocked position. To move the lock between the unlocked and locked position the key must be inserted to retract the bolt clear of the partition. This prevents the inadvertent locking of the door in the closed position without the key.