diff --git a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
index 81d7c7e8f7e9..10b79d3c74e0 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
@@ -36,24 +36,19 @@ static void rs_poll(struct timer_list *);
 static struct tty_driver *serial_driver;
 static struct tty_port serial_port;
 static DEFINE_TIMER(serial_timer, rs_poll);
-static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(timer_lock);
 
 static int rs_open(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file * filp)
 {
-	spin_lock_bh(&timer_lock);
 	if (tty->count == 1)
 		mod_timer(&serial_timer, jiffies + SERIAL_TIMER_VALUE);
-	spin_unlock_bh(&timer_lock);
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static void rs_close(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file * filp)
 {
-	spin_lock_bh(&timer_lock);
 	if (tty->count == 1)
 		del_timer_sync(&serial_timer);
-	spin_unlock_bh(&timer_lock);
 }
 
 
@@ -73,8 +68,6 @@ static void rs_poll(struct timer_list *unused)
 	int rd = 1;
 	unsigned char c;
 
-	spin_lock(&timer_lock);
-
 	while (simc_poll(0)) {
 		rd = simc_read(0, &c, 1);
 		if (rd <= 0)
@@ -87,7 +80,6 @@ static void rs_poll(struct timer_list *unused)
 		tty_flip_buffer_push(port);
 	if (rd)
 		mod_timer(&serial_timer, jiffies + SERIAL_TIMER_VALUE);
-	spin_unlock(&timer_lock);
 }