diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
index cf0967a1d0..2fdec80efd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@ mlx5_dev_close(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	unsigned int i;
 	int ret;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	DEBUG("%p: closing device \"%s\"",
 	      (void *)dev,
 	      ((priv->ctx != NULL) ? priv->ctx->device->name : ""));
@@ -227,7 +226,6 @@ mlx5_dev_close(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	ret = priv_mr_verify(priv);
 	if (ret)
 		WARN("%p: some Memory Region still remain", (void *)priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	memset(priv, 0, sizeof(*priv));
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
index b65962df9e..8e021544ce 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ struct priv {
 	LIST_HEAD(ind_tables, mlx5_ind_table_ibv) ind_tbls;
 	uint32_t link_speed_capa; /* Link speed capabilities. */
 	struct mlx5_xstats_ctrl xstats_ctrl; /* Extended stats control. */
-	rte_spinlock_t lock; /* Lock for control functions. */
+	rte_spinlock_t mr_lock; /* MR Lock. */
 	int primary_socket; /* Unix socket for primary process. */
 	void *uar_base; /* Reserved address space for UAR mapping */
 	struct rte_intr_handle intr_handle_socket; /* Interrupt handler. */
@@ -157,47 +157,6 @@ struct priv {
 	/* Context for Verbs allocator. */
 };
 
-/**
- * Lock private structure to protect it from concurrent access in the
- * control path.
- *
- * @param priv
- *   Pointer to private structure.
- */
-static inline void
-priv_lock(struct priv *priv)
-{
-	rte_spinlock_lock(&priv->lock);
-}
-
-/**
- * Try to lock private structure to protect it from concurrent access in the
- * control path.
- *
- * @param priv
- *   Pointer to private structure.
- *
- * @return
- *   1 if the lock is successfully taken; 0 otherwise.
- */
-static inline int
-priv_trylock(struct priv *priv)
-{
-	return rte_spinlock_trylock(&priv->lock);
-}
-
-/**
- * Unlock private structure.
- *
- * @param priv
- *   Pointer to private structure.
- */
-static inline void
-priv_unlock(struct priv *priv)
-{
-	rte_spinlock_unlock(&priv->lock);
-}
-
 /* mlx5.c */
 
 int mlx5_getenv_int(const char *);
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
index 5c43755d05..f0defc69d1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
@@ -269,18 +269,16 @@ priv_set_flags(struct priv *priv, unsigned int keep, unsigned int flags)
 }
 
 /**
- * Ethernet device configuration.
- *
- * Prepare the driver for a given number of TX and RX queues.
+ * DPDK callback for Ethernet device configuration.
  *
  * @param dev
  *   Pointer to Ethernet device structure.
  *
  * @return
- *   0 on success, errno value on failure.
+ *   0 on success, negative errno value on failure.
  */
-static int
-dev_configure(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+int
+mlx5_dev_configure(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	unsigned int rxqs_n = dev->data->nb_rx_queues;
@@ -362,28 +360,7 @@ dev_configure(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 			j = 0;
 	}
 	return 0;
-}
 
-/**
- * DPDK callback for Ethernet device configuration.
- *
- * @param dev
- *   Pointer to Ethernet device structure.
- *
- * @return
- *   0 on success, negative errno value on failure.
- */
-int
-mlx5_dev_configure(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
-{
-	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
-	int ret;
-
-	priv_lock(priv);
-	ret = dev_configure(dev);
-	assert(ret >= 0);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
-	return -ret;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -403,7 +380,6 @@ mlx5_dev_infos_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_dev_info *info)
 	char ifname[IF_NAMESIZE];
 
 	info->pci_dev = RTE_ETH_DEV_TO_PCI(dev);
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	/* FIXME: we should ask the device for these values. */
 	info->min_rx_bufsize = 32;
 	info->max_rx_pktlen = 65536;
@@ -431,7 +407,6 @@ mlx5_dev_infos_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_dev_info *info)
 	info->hash_key_size = priv->rss_conf.rss_key_len;
 	info->speed_capa = priv->link_speed_capa;
 	info->flow_type_rss_offloads = ~MLX5_RSS_HF_MASK;
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -490,7 +465,6 @@ mlx5_link_update_unlocked_gset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct rte_eth_link dev_link;
 	int link_speed = 0;
 
-	/* priv_lock() is not taken to allow concurrent calls. */
 	if (priv_ifreq(priv, SIOCGIFFLAGS, &ifr)) {
 		WARN("ioctl(SIOCGIFFLAGS) failed: %s", strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
@@ -756,9 +730,7 @@ mlx5_link_update(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, int wait_to_complete __rte_unused)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int ret;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	ret = priv_link_update(priv, wait_to_complete);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -780,7 +752,6 @@ mlx5_dev_set_mtu(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t mtu)
 	uint16_t kern_mtu;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	ret = priv_get_mtu(priv, &kern_mtu);
 	if (ret)
 		goto out;
@@ -795,13 +766,11 @@ mlx5_dev_set_mtu(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t mtu)
 		priv->mtu = mtu;
 		DEBUG("adapter port %u MTU set to %u", priv->port, mtu);
 	}
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 out:
 	ret = errno;
 	WARN("cannot set port %u MTU to %u: %s", priv->port, mtu,
 	     strerror(ret));
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	assert(ret >= 0);
 	return -ret;
 }
@@ -828,7 +797,6 @@ mlx5_dev_get_flow_ctrl(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 	int ret;
 
 	ifr.ifr_data = (void *)&ethpause;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (priv_ifreq(priv, SIOCETHTOOL, &ifr)) {
 		ret = errno;
 		WARN("ioctl(SIOCETHTOOL, ETHTOOL_GPAUSEPARAM)"
@@ -847,7 +815,6 @@ mlx5_dev_get_flow_ctrl(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 		fc_conf->mode = RTE_FC_NONE;
 	ret = 0;
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	assert(ret >= 0);
 	return -ret;
 }
@@ -886,7 +853,6 @@ mlx5_dev_set_flow_ctrl(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 		ethpause.tx_pause = 1;
 	else
 		ethpause.tx_pause = 0;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (priv_ifreq(priv, SIOCETHTOOL, &ifr)) {
 		ret = errno;
 		WARN("ioctl(SIOCETHTOOL, ETHTOOL_SPAUSEPARAM)"
@@ -896,7 +862,6 @@ mlx5_dev_set_flow_ctrl(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 	}
 	ret = 0;
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	assert(ret >= 0);
 	return -ret;
 }
@@ -1039,15 +1004,8 @@ mlx5_dev_link_status_handler(void *arg)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int ret;
 
-	while (!priv_trylock(priv)) {
-		/* Alarm is being canceled. */
-		if (priv->pending_alarm == 0)
-			return;
-		rte_pause();
-	}
 	priv->pending_alarm = 0;
 	ret = priv_link_status_update(priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	if (!ret)
 		_rte_eth_dev_callback_process(dev, RTE_ETH_EVENT_INTR_LSC, NULL);
 }
@@ -1067,9 +1025,7 @@ mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler(void *cb_arg)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	uint32_t events;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	events = priv_dev_status_handler(priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	if (events & (1 << RTE_ETH_EVENT_INTR_LSC))
 		_rte_eth_dev_callback_process(dev, RTE_ETH_EVENT_INTR_LSC, NULL);
 	if (events & (1 << RTE_ETH_EVENT_INTR_RMV))
@@ -1088,9 +1044,7 @@ mlx5_dev_handler_socket(void *cb_arg)
 	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = cb_arg;
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	priv_socket_handle(priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1190,9 +1144,7 @@ mlx5_set_link_down(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int err;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	err = priv_dev_set_link(priv, 0);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -1211,9 +1163,7 @@ mlx5_set_link_up(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int err;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	err = priv_dev_set_link(priv, 1);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
index b8d6f2f18d..2af0ea9def 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
@@ -1919,9 +1919,7 @@ mlx5_flow_validate(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	int ret;
 	struct mlx5_flow_parse parser = { .create = 0, };
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	ret = priv_flow_convert(priv, attr, items, actions, error, &parser);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1941,10 +1939,8 @@ mlx5_flow_create(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	struct rte_flow *flow;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	flow = priv_flow_create(priv, &priv->flows, attr, items, actions,
 				error);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return flow;
 }
 
@@ -2431,9 +2427,7 @@ mlx5_flow_destroy(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	priv_flow_destroy(priv, &priv->flows, flow);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2449,9 +2443,7 @@ mlx5_flow_flush(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	priv_flow_flush(priv, &priv->flows);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2509,16 +2501,14 @@ priv_flow_query_count(struct ibv_counter_set *cs,
  * @see rte_flow_ops
  */
 int
-mlx5_flow_query(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+mlx5_flow_query(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused,
 		struct rte_flow *flow,
 		enum rte_flow_action_type action __rte_unused,
 		void *data,
 		struct rte_flow_error *error)
 {
-	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int res = EINVAL;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (flow->cs) {
 		res = priv_flow_query_count(flow->cs,
 					&flow->counter_stats,
@@ -2530,7 +2520,6 @@ mlx5_flow_query(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				   NULL,
 				   "no counter found for flow");
 	}
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return -res;
 }
 #endif
@@ -2548,13 +2537,11 @@ mlx5_flow_isolate(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (dev->data->dev_started) {
 		rte_flow_error_set(error, EBUSY,
 				   RTE_FLOW_ERROR_TYPE_UNSPECIFIED,
 				   NULL,
 				   "port must be stopped first");
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 		return -rte_errno;
 	}
 	priv->isolated = !!enable;
@@ -2562,7 +2549,6 @@ mlx5_flow_isolate(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		priv->dev->dev_ops = &mlx5_dev_ops_isolate;
 	else
 		priv->dev->dev_ops = &mlx5_dev_ops;
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -3044,9 +3030,7 @@ mlx5_dev_filter_ctrl(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		*(const void **)arg = &mlx5_flow_ops;
 		return 0;
 	case RTE_ETH_FILTER_FDIR:
-		priv_lock(priv);
 		ret = priv_fdir_ctrl_func(priv, filter_op, arg);
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 		break;
 	default:
 		ERROR("%p: filter type (%d) not supported",
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mr.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mr.c
index 6624d0ffa6..3b7b6d1401 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mr.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mr.c
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ mlx5_txq_mp2mr_reg(struct mlx5_txq_data *txq, struct rte_mempool *mp,
 		container_of(txq, struct mlx5_txq_ctrl, txq);
 	struct mlx5_mr *mr;
 
-	priv_lock(txq_ctrl->priv);
+	rte_spinlock_lock(&txq_ctrl->priv->mr_lock);
 	mr = priv_txq_mp2mr_reg(txq_ctrl->priv, txq, mp, idx);
-	priv_unlock(txq_ctrl->priv);
+	rte_spinlock_unlock(&txq_ctrl->priv->mr_lock);
 	return mr;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rss.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rss.c
index 8f5c8beff2..4b88215fba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rss.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rss.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ mlx5_rss_hash_update(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (rss_conf->rss_hf & MLX5_RSS_HF_MASK) {
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 		goto out;
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ mlx5_rss_hash_update(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	}
 	priv->rss_conf.rss_hf = rss_conf->rss_hf;
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -85,7 +83,6 @@ mlx5_rss_hash_conf_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 
 	if (!rss_conf)
 		return -EINVAL;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (rss_conf->rss_key &&
 	    (rss_conf->rss_key_len >= priv->rss_conf.rss_key_len)) {
 		memcpy(rss_conf->rss_key, priv->rss_conf.rss_key,
@@ -93,7 +90,6 @@ mlx5_rss_hash_conf_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	}
 	rss_conf->rss_key_len = priv->rss_conf.rss_key_len;
 	rss_conf->rss_hf = priv->rss_conf.rss_hf;
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -222,9 +218,7 @@ mlx5_dev_rss_reta_query(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	int ret;
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	ret = priv_dev_rss_reta_query(priv, reta_conf, reta_size);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return -ret;
 }
 
@@ -249,9 +243,7 @@ mlx5_dev_rss_reta_update(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	int ret;
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	ret = priv_dev_rss_reta_update(priv, reta_conf, reta_size);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	if (dev->data->dev_started) {
 		mlx5_dev_stop(dev);
 		mlx5_dev_start(dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxq.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxq.c
index 320a12be9f..de3335cb92 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxq.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxq.c
@@ -286,7 +286,6 @@ mlx5_rx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 		container_of(rxq, struct mlx5_rxq_ctrl, rxq);
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (!rte_is_power_of_2(desc)) {
 		desc = 1 << log2above(desc);
 		WARN("%p: increased number of descriptors in RX queue %u"
@@ -298,7 +297,6 @@ mlx5_rx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 	if (idx >= priv->rxqs_n) {
 		ERROR("%p: queue index out of range (%u >= %u)",
 		      (void *)dev, idx, priv->rxqs_n);
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 		return -EOVERFLOW;
 	}
 	if (!priv_is_rx_queue_offloads_allowed(priv, conf->offloads)) {
@@ -329,7 +327,6 @@ mlx5_rx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 	      (void *)dev, (void *)rxq_ctrl);
 	(*priv->rxqs)[idx] = &rxq_ctrl->rxq;
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return -ret;
 }
 
@@ -350,12 +347,10 @@ mlx5_rx_queue_release(void *dpdk_rxq)
 		return;
 	rxq_ctrl = container_of(rxq, struct mlx5_rxq_ctrl, rxq);
 	priv = rxq_ctrl->priv;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	if (!mlx5_priv_rxq_releasable(priv, rxq_ctrl->rxq.stats.idx))
 		rte_panic("Rx queue %p is still used by a flow and cannot be"
 			  " removed\n", (void *)rxq_ctrl);
 	mlx5_priv_rxq_release(priv, rxq_ctrl->rxq.stats.idx);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -512,7 +507,6 @@ mlx5_rx_intr_enable(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t rx_queue_id)
 	struct mlx5_rxq_ctrl *rxq_ctrl;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	rxq_data = (*priv->rxqs)[rx_queue_id];
 	if (!rxq_data) {
 		ret = EINVAL;
@@ -531,7 +525,6 @@ mlx5_rx_intr_enable(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t rx_queue_id)
 		mlx5_priv_rxq_ibv_release(priv, rxq_ibv);
 	}
 exit:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	if (ret)
 		WARN("unable to arm interrupt on rx queue %d", rx_queue_id);
 	return -ret;
@@ -559,7 +552,6 @@ mlx5_rx_intr_disable(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t rx_queue_id)
 	void *ev_ctx;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	rxq_data = (*priv->rxqs)[rx_queue_id];
 	if (!rxq_data) {
 		ret = EINVAL;
@@ -583,7 +575,6 @@ mlx5_rx_intr_disable(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t rx_queue_id)
 exit:
 	if (rxq_ibv)
 		mlx5_priv_rxq_ibv_release(priv, rxq_ibv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	if (ret)
 		WARN("unable to disable interrupt on rx queue %d",
 		     rx_queue_id);
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_stats.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_stats.c
index 167e405480..39be1865a8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_stats.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_stats.c
@@ -328,7 +328,6 @@ mlx5_stats_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_stats *stats)
 	unsigned int i;
 	unsigned int idx;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	/* Add software counters. */
 	for (i = 0; (i != priv->rxqs_n); ++i) {
 		struct mlx5_rxq_data *rxq = (*priv->rxqs)[i];
@@ -374,7 +373,6 @@ mlx5_stats_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_stats *stats)
 	/* FIXME: retrieve and add hardware counters. */
 #endif
 	*stats = tmp;
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -391,7 +389,6 @@ mlx5_stats_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	unsigned int i;
 	unsigned int idx;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	for (i = 0; (i != priv->rxqs_n); ++i) {
 		if ((*priv->rxqs)[i] == NULL)
 			continue;
@@ -409,7 +406,6 @@ mlx5_stats_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 #ifndef MLX5_PMD_SOFT_COUNTERS
 	/* FIXME: reset hardware counters. */
 #endif
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -436,16 +432,13 @@ mlx5_xstats_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		struct mlx5_xstats_ctrl *xstats_ctrl = &priv->xstats_ctrl;
 		int stats_n;
 
-		priv_lock(priv);
 		stats_n = priv_ethtool_get_stats_n(priv);
 		if (stats_n < 0) {
-			priv_unlock(priv);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		if (xstats_ctrl->stats_n != stats_n)
 			priv_xstats_init(priv);
 		ret = priv_xstats_get(priv, stats);
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -463,15 +456,12 @@ mlx5_xstats_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct mlx5_xstats_ctrl *xstats_ctrl = &priv->xstats_ctrl;
 	int stats_n;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	stats_n = priv_ethtool_get_stats_n(priv);
 	if (stats_n < 0)
-		goto unlock;
+		return;
 	if (xstats_ctrl->stats_n != stats_n)
 		priv_xstats_init(priv);
 	priv_xstats_reset(priv);
-unlock:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -491,18 +481,15 @@ int
 mlx5_xstats_get_names(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused,
 		struct rte_eth_xstat_name *xstats_names, unsigned int n)
 {
-	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	unsigned int i;
 
 	if (n >= xstats_n && xstats_names) {
-		priv_lock(priv);
 		for (i = 0; i != xstats_n; ++i) {
 			strncpy(xstats_names[i].name,
 				mlx5_counters_init[i].dpdk_name,
 				RTE_ETH_XSTATS_NAME_SIZE);
 			xstats_names[i].name[RTE_ETH_XSTATS_NAME_SIZE - 1] = 0;
 		}
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 	}
 	return xstats_n;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_trigger.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_trigger.c
index b147fb4f8b..3ce93910d0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_trigger.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_trigger.c
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ mlx5_dev_start(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	int err;
 
 	dev->data->dev_started = 1;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	err = priv_flow_create_drop_queue(priv);
 	if (err) {
 		ERROR("%p: Drop queue allocation failed: %s",
@@ -180,7 +179,6 @@ mlx5_dev_start(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 		goto error;
 	}
 	priv_dev_interrupt_handler_install(priv, dev);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 error:
 	/* Rollback. */
@@ -192,7 +190,6 @@ mlx5_dev_start(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	priv_txq_stop(priv);
 	priv_rxq_stop(priv);
 	priv_flow_delete_drop_queue(priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -210,7 +207,6 @@ mlx5_dev_stop(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 	struct mlx5_mr *mr;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	dev->data->dev_started = 0;
 	/* Prevent crashes when queues are still in use. */
 	dev->rx_pkt_burst = removed_rx_burst;
@@ -227,7 +223,6 @@ mlx5_dev_stop(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	for (mr = LIST_FIRST(&priv->mr); mr; mr = LIST_FIRST(&priv->mr))
 		priv_mr_release(priv, mr);
 	priv_flow_delete_drop_queue(priv);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -412,8 +407,6 @@ mlx5_traffic_restart(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	priv_dev_traffic_restart(priv, dev);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_txq.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_txq.c
index 9be7078405..47ee959901 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_txq.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_txq.c
@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@ mlx5_tx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 		container_of(txq, struct mlx5_txq_ctrl, txq);
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	/*
 	 * Don't verify port offloads for application which
 	 * use the old API.
@@ -205,7 +204,6 @@ mlx5_tx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 	if (idx >= priv->txqs_n) {
 		ERROR("%p: queue index out of range (%u >= %u)",
 		      (void *)dev, idx, priv->txqs_n);
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 		return -EOVERFLOW;
 	}
 	if (!mlx5_priv_txq_releasable(priv, idx)) {
@@ -226,7 +224,6 @@ mlx5_tx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t idx, uint16_t desc,
 	      (void *)dev, (void *)txq_ctrl);
 	(*priv->txqs)[idx] = &txq_ctrl->txq;
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return -ret;
 }
 
@@ -248,7 +245,6 @@ mlx5_tx_queue_release(void *dpdk_txq)
 		return;
 	txq_ctrl = container_of(txq, struct mlx5_txq_ctrl, txq);
 	priv = txq_ctrl->priv;
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	for (i = 0; (i != priv->txqs_n); ++i)
 		if ((*priv->txqs)[i] == txq) {
 			DEBUG("%p: removing TX queue %p from list",
@@ -256,7 +252,6 @@ mlx5_tx_queue_release(void *dpdk_txq)
 			mlx5_priv_txq_release(priv, i);
 			break;
 		}
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_vlan.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_vlan.c
index 85ed546cbd..184ae2f4e6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_vlan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_vlan.c
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ mlx5_vlan_filter_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t vlan_id, int on)
 	unsigned int i;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	DEBUG("%p: %s VLAN filter ID %" PRIu16,
 	      (void *)dev, (on ? "enable" : "disable"), vlan_id);
 	assert(priv->vlan_filter_n <= RTE_DIM(priv->vlan_filter));
@@ -82,7 +81,6 @@ mlx5_vlan_filter_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t vlan_id, int on)
 	if (dev->data->dev_started)
 		priv_dev_traffic_restart(priv, dev);
 out:
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -155,9 +153,7 @@ mlx5_vlan_strip_queue_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t queue, int on)
 		ERROR("VLAN stripping, invalid queue number %d", queue);
 		return;
 	}
-	priv_lock(priv);
 	priv_vlan_strip_queue_set(priv, queue, on);
-	priv_unlock(priv);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -183,10 +179,8 @@ mlx5_vlan_offload_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, int mask)
 			return 0;
 		}
 		/* Run on every RX queue and set/reset VLAN stripping. */
-		priv_lock(priv);
 		for (i = 0; (i != priv->rxqs_n); i++)
 			priv_vlan_strip_queue_set(priv, i, hw_vlan_strip);
-		priv_unlock(priv);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }