diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
--- a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
@@ -326,14 +326,12 @@
 	if (!PCM_REGISTERED(d))
 		return (ENODEV);
 
-	PCM_LOCK(d);
 	if (d->playcount > 0)
 		mode |= PCM_MODE_PLAY;
 	if (d->reccount > 0)
 		mode |= PCM_MODE_REC;
 	if (d->mixer_dev != NULL)
 		mode |= PCM_MODE_MIXER;
-	PCM_UNLOCK(d);
 
 	return (sysctl_handle_int(oidp, &mode, 0, req));
 }