A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly; an actuation member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, a distal portion of the elongated body portion configured to selectively engage a loading unit; and a locking mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the actuation member, the locking mechanism configured to substantially prevent at least a partial movement of the actuation member when the elongated body portion is not engaged with a loading unit, the locking mechanism comprising: a link disposed at least partially within the elongated body portion and configured for mechanical engagement with a portion of a loading unit, at least a portion of the link being longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongated body portion; a bushing, at least a portion of the bushing disposed proximally of at least a portion of the link, at least a portion of the bushing being longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongated body portion; and a connecting member, at least a portion of the connecting member disposed proximally of at least a portion of the bushing, the connecting member being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the actuation member; wherein engagement between a loading unit and the elongated body portion causes proximal movement of the link, proximal movement of the bushing, and proximal movement of the connecting member, characterised in that the bushing includes a body portion and a finger extending distally from the body portion, and wherein a distal face of the body portion abuts a proximal end of the link. a handle assembly; an actuation member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, a distal portion of the elongated body portion configured to selectively engage a loading unit; and a locking mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the actuation member, the locking mechanism configured to substantially prevent at least a partial movement of the actuation member when the elongated body portion is not engaged with a loading unit, the locking mechanism comprising: a link disposed at least partially within the elongated body portion and configured for mechanical engagement with a portion of a loading unit, at least a portion of the link being longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongated body portion; a bushing, at least a portion of the bushing disposed proximally of at least a portion of the link, at least a portion of the bushing being longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongated body portion; and a connecting member, at least a portion of the connecting member disposed proximally of at least a portion of the bushing, the connecting member being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the actuation member; wherein engagement between a loading unit and the elongated body portion causes proximal movement of the link, proximal movement of the bushing, and proximal movement of the connecting member, characterised in that the bushing includes a body portion and a finger extending distally from the body portion, and wherein a distal face of the body portion abuts a proximal end of the link.