diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
index 4a7966b21931..657dfacd5ba8 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
@@ -114,8 +114,6 @@ static int uml_net_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct uml_net_private *lp = dev->priv;
 	int err;
 
-	spin_lock(&lp->lock);
-
 	if(lp->fd >= 0){
 		err = -ENXIO;
 		goto out;
@@ -149,8 +147,6 @@ static int uml_net_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	 */
 	while((err = uml_net_rx(dev)) > 0) ;
 
-	spin_unlock(&lp->lock);
-
 	spin_lock(&opened_lock);
 	list_add(&lp->list, &opened);
 	spin_unlock(&opened_lock);
@@ -160,7 +156,6 @@ static int uml_net_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	if(lp->close != NULL) (*lp->close)(lp->fd, &lp->user);
 	lp->fd = -1;
 out:
-	spin_unlock(&lp->lock);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -169,15 +164,12 @@ static int uml_net_close(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct uml_net_private *lp = dev->priv;
 	
 	netif_stop_queue(dev);
-	spin_lock(&lp->lock);
 
 	free_irq(dev->irq, dev);
 	if(lp->close != NULL)
 		(*lp->close)(lp->fd, &lp->user);
 	lp->fd = -1;
 
-	spin_unlock(&lp->lock);
-
 	spin_lock(&opened_lock);
 	list_del(&lp->list);
 	spin_unlock(&opened_lock);
@@ -246,9 +238,9 @@ static int uml_net_set_mac(struct net_device *dev, void *addr)
 	struct uml_net_private *lp = dev->priv;
 	struct sockaddr *hwaddr = addr;
 
-	spin_lock(&lp->lock);
+	spin_lock_irq(&lp->lock);
 	set_ether_mac(dev, hwaddr->sa_data);
-	spin_unlock(&lp->lock);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&lp->lock);
 
 	return(0);
 }
@@ -258,7 +250,7 @@ static int uml_net_change_mtu(struct net_device *dev, int new_mtu)
 	struct uml_net_private *lp = dev->priv;
 	int err = 0;
 
-	spin_lock(&lp->lock);
+	spin_lock_irq(&lp->lock);
 
 	new_mtu = (*lp->set_mtu)(new_mtu, &lp->user);
 	if(new_mtu < 0){
@@ -269,7 +261,7 @@ static int uml_net_change_mtu(struct net_device *dev, int new_mtu)
 	dev->mtu = new_mtu;
 
  out:
-	spin_unlock(&lp->lock);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&lp->lock);
 	return err;
 }