diff --git a/kvm-all.c b/kvm-all.c
index ad5ac5e3df..df57da0bf2 100644
--- a/kvm-all.c
+++ b/kvm-all.c
@@ -1814,13 +1814,12 @@ int kvm_cpu_exec(CPUState *cpu)
             break;
         case KVM_EXIT_MMIO:
             DPRINTF("handle_mmio\n");
-            qemu_mutex_lock_iothread();
+            /* Called outside BQL */
             address_space_rw(&address_space_memory,
                              run->mmio.phys_addr, attrs,
                              run->mmio.data,
                              run->mmio.len,
                              run->mmio.is_write);
-            qemu_mutex_unlock_iothread();
             ret = 0;
             break;
         case KVM_EXIT_IRQ_WINDOW_OPEN: