A panic door lock includes a housing and a dead bolt that is movable in the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The dead bolt is spring-loaded and tends to be moved to the extended position. The dead bolt has a slot defined in place therein. A detent has an inner claw adapted to enter the slot and retain the dead bolt in the retracted position as long as the dead bolt is moved to the first retracted position. In addition, a spring-loaded trigger having a tip normally extended out the housing is provided. The trigger is engagable with the detent so that the inner claw may exit the slot and release the dead bolt from the retracted position when the tip of the trigger is pressed into the housing.