diff --git a/rtengine/dcraw.cc b/rtengine/dcraw.cc
index e7f0e5a65..79210c6dc 100644
--- a/rtengine/dcraw.cc
+++ b/rtengine/dcraw.cc
@@ -8942,7 +8942,6 @@ Glib::Mutex* dcrMutex=NULL;
 
 int RawImage::loadRaw (bool loadData) {
 
-  Glib::Mutex::Lock lock(*dcrMutex); // auto unlock
   THREAD_LOCK
 
   ifname = fname.c_str();