diff --git a/drivers/video/neofb.c b/drivers/video/neofb.c
index dea86455258..bfb802d26d5 100644
--- a/drivers/video/neofb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/neofb.c
@@ -557,14 +557,12 @@ neofb_open(struct fb_info *info, int user)
 {
 	struct neofb_par *par = info->par;
 
-	mutex_lock(&par->open_lock);
 	if (!par->ref_count) {
 		memset(&par->state, 0, sizeof(struct vgastate));
 		par->state.flags = VGA_SAVE_MODE | VGA_SAVE_FONTS;
 		save_vga(&par->state);
 	}
 	par->ref_count++;
-	mutex_unlock(&par->open_lock);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -574,16 +572,13 @@ neofb_release(struct fb_info *info, int user)
 {
 	struct neofb_par *par = info->par;
 
-	mutex_lock(&par->open_lock);
-	if (!par->ref_count) {
-		mutex_unlock(&par->open_lock);
+	if (!par->ref_count)
 		return -EINVAL;
-	}
+
 	if (par->ref_count == 1) {
 		restore_vga(&par->state);
 	}
 	par->ref_count--;
-	mutex_unlock(&par->open_lock);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1958,7 +1953,6 @@ static struct fb_info *__devinit neo_alloc_fb_info(struct pci_dev *dev, const st
 
 	info->fix.accel = id->driver_data;
 
-	mutex_init(&par->open_lock);
 	par->pci_burst = !nopciburst;
 	par->lcd_stretch = !nostretch;
 	par->libretto = libretto;
diff --git a/include/video/neomagic.h b/include/video/neomagic.h
index 38910da0ae5..08b66378295 100644
--- a/include/video/neomagic.h
+++ b/include/video/neomagic.h
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ typedef volatile struct {
 
 struct neofb_par {
 	struct vgastate state;
-	struct mutex open_lock;
 	unsigned int ref_count;
 
 	unsigned char MiscOutReg;	/* Misc */