Abstract: A deadbolt extender which automatically extends a deadbolt when the door upon which it is mounted is closed. The deadbolt extender comprises a tongue body reciprocating within a tongue body track, a deadbolt reciprocating within a deadbolt track, and a release mechanism releasably engaged with the tongue body. A tongue attached to the tongue body retractably engages a spring-loaded deadbolt latch. The tongue body track diverges from the deadbolt track, so that when the tongue body is at an extension end of the tongue body track, the tongue is retracted out of the way, and the deadbolt may be operated conventionally, using a conventional deadbolt drive mechanism. The deadbolt extender will not extend the deadbolt automatically upon door closure unless first cocked, thereby eliminating unwanted "lockouts".