diff --git a/drivers/char/nvram.c b/drivers/char/nvram.c
index 2100a8f7bd86..7cf4518c030f 100644
--- a/drivers/char/nvram.c
+++ b/drivers/char/nvram.c
@@ -329,14 +329,12 @@ static int nvram_ioctl(struct inode *inode, struct file *file,
 
 static int nvram_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
-	lock_kernel();
 	spin_lock(&nvram_state_lock);
 
 	if ((nvram_open_cnt && (file->f_flags & O_EXCL)) ||
 	    (nvram_open_mode & NVRAM_EXCL) ||
 	    ((file->f_mode & FMODE_WRITE) && (nvram_open_mode & NVRAM_WRITE))) {
 		spin_unlock(&nvram_state_lock);
-		unlock_kernel();
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
 
@@ -347,7 +345,6 @@ static int nvram_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	nvram_open_cnt++;
 
 	spin_unlock(&nvram_state_lock);
-	unlock_kernel();
 
 	return 0;
 }