diff --git a/drivers/iio/light/tcs3472.c b/drivers/iio/light/tcs3472.c
index 1b530bf04c89..b29312f99077 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/light/tcs3472.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/light/tcs3472.c
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@
 
 struct tcs3472_data {
 	struct i2c_client *client;
-	struct mutex lock;
 	u8 enable;
 	u8 control;
 	u8 atime;
@@ -117,17 +116,16 @@ static int tcs3472_read_raw(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
 
 	switch (mask) {
 	case IIO_CHAN_INFO_RAW:
-		if (iio_buffer_enabled(indio_dev))
-			return -EBUSY;
-
-		mutex_lock(&data->lock);
+		ret = iio_device_claim_direct_mode(indio_dev);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 		ret = tcs3472_req_data(data);
 		if (ret < 0) {
-			mutex_unlock(&data->lock);
+			iio_device_release_direct_mode(indio_dev);
 			return ret;
 		}
 		ret = i2c_smbus_read_word_data(data->client, chan->address);
-		mutex_unlock(&data->lock);
+		iio_device_release_direct_mode(indio_dev);
 		if (ret < 0)
 			return ret;
 		*val = ret;
@@ -263,7 +261,6 @@ static int tcs3472_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 	data = iio_priv(indio_dev);
 	i2c_set_clientdata(client, indio_dev);
 	data->client = client;
-	mutex_init(&data->lock);
 
 	indio_dev->dev.parent = &client->dev;
 	indio_dev->info = &tcs3472_info;