diff --git a/drivers/video/vga16fb.c b/drivers/video/vga16fb.c
index e31bca8a0cb..5b2938903ac 100644
--- a/drivers/video/vga16fb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/vga16fb.c
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ struct vga16fb_par {
 		unsigned char	ClockingMode;	  /* Seq-Controller:01h */
 	} vga_state;
 	struct vgastate state;
-	struct mutex open_lock;
 	unsigned int ref_count;
 	int palette_blanked, vesa_blanked, mode, isVGA;
 	u8 misc, pel_msk, vss, clkdiv;
@@ -286,7 +285,6 @@ static int vga16fb_open(struct fb_info *info, int user)
 {
 	struct vga16fb_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_FONTS | VGA_SAVE_MODE |
@@ -294,7 +292,6 @@ static int vga16fb_open(struct fb_info *info, int user)
 		save_vga(&par->state);
 	}
 	par->ref_count++;
-	mutex_unlock(&par->open_lock);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -303,15 +300,12 @@ static int vga16fb_release(struct fb_info *info, int user)
 {
 	struct vga16fb_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;
 }
@@ -1326,7 +1320,6 @@ static int __init vga16fb_probe(struct platform_device *dev)
 	printk(KERN_INFO "vga16fb: mapped to 0x%p\n", info->screen_base);
 	par = info->par;
 
-	mutex_init(&par->open_lock);
 	par->isVGA = screen_info.orig_video_isVGA;
 	par->palette_blanked = 0;
 	par->vesa_blanked = 0;