diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index c37bcac81898902cf3240b6b8e12b3f9f189e585..43b2e4ca6e90c9383b8b04dfeb6ee2aae6b4bd04 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -606,7 +606,6 @@ networkStateInitialize(bool privileged,
         VIR_FREE(network_driver);
         goto error;
     }
-    networkDriverLock(network_driver);
 
     /* configuration/state paths are one of
      * ~/.config/libvirt/... (session/unprivileged)
@@ -677,8 +676,6 @@ networkStateInitialize(bool privileged,
                                  network_driver->networkAutostartDir) < 0)
         goto error;
 
-    networkDriverUnlock(network_driver);
-
     /* Update the internal status of all allegedly active
      * networks according to external conditions on the host
      * (i.e. anything that isn't stored directly in each