diff --git a/lib/lockref.c b/lib/lockref.c
index 3d468b53d4c9..8750aedd9485 100644
--- a/lib/lockref.c
+++ b/lib/lockref.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 		if (likely(old.lock_count == prev.lock_count)) {		\
 			SUCCESS;						\
 		}								\
-		cpu_relax();							\
 	}									\
 } while (0)