diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/HStore.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/HStore.java
index 2a160f853b41..e50d454eb8d5 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/HStore.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/regionserver/HStore.java
@@ -2061,17 +2061,12 @@ int versionsToReturn(final int wantedVersions) {
 
   @Override
   public boolean canSplit() {
-    this.lock.readLock().lock();
-    try {
-      // Not split-able if we find a reference store file present in the store.
-      boolean result = !hasReferences();
-      if (!result) {
-        LOG.trace("Not splittable; has references: {}", this);
-      }
-      return result;
-    } finally {
-      this.lock.readLock().unlock();
+    // Not split-able if we find a reference store file present in the store.
+    boolean result = !hasReferences();
+    if (!result) {
+      LOG.trace("Not splittable; has references: {}", this);
     }
+    return result;
   }
 
   /**