diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
index 359795d8b482e323f4d805264d5c86aa8570fbc8..3285032727b3461543d81ea78c82b8c0367d2bc1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
@@ -3065,8 +3065,6 @@ ath5k_beacon_update(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct sk_buff *skb)
 
 	ath5k_debug_dump_skb(sc, skb, "BC  ", 1);
 
-	mutex_lock(&sc->lock);
-
 	if (sc->opmode != IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_IBSS) {
 		ret = -EIO;
 		goto end;
@@ -3083,7 +3081,6 @@ ath5k_beacon_update(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	}
 
 end:
-	mutex_unlock(&sc->lock);
 	return ret;
 }