diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
index 9628a5c4d..540e56f8d 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
@@ -718,41 +718,6 @@ public:
    */
   virtual std::string get_db_name() const = 0;
 
-
-  // FIXME: these are just for functionality mocking, need to implement
-  // RAII-friendly and multi-read one-write friendly locking mechanism
-  //
-  // acquire db lock
-  /**
-   * @brief acquires the BlockchainDB lock
-   *
-   * This function is a stub until such a time as locking is implemented at
-   * this level.
-   *
-   * The subclass implementation should return true unless implementing a
-   * locking scheme of some sort, in which case it should return true upon
-   * acquisition of the lock and block until then.
-   *
-   * If any of this cannot be done, the subclass should throw the corresponding
-   * subclass of DB_EXCEPTION
-   *
-   * @return true, unless at a future time false makes sense (timeout, etc)
-   */
-  virtual bool lock() = 0;
-
-  // release db lock
-  /**
-   * @brief This function releases the BlockchainDB lock
-   *
-   * The subclass, should it have implemented lock(), will release any lock
-   * held by the calling thread.  In the case of recursive locking, it should
-   * release one instance of a lock.
-   *
-   * If any of this cannot be done, the subclass should throw the corresponding
-   * subclass of DB_EXCEPTION
-   */
-  virtual void unlock() = 0;
-
   /**
    * @brief tells the BlockchainDB to start a new "batch" of blocks
    *
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
index 2c015faee..db8c68c45 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
@@ -1688,22 +1688,6 @@ std::string BlockchainLMDB::get_db_name() const
   return std::string("lmdb");
 }
 
-// TODO: this?
-bool BlockchainLMDB::lock()
-{
-  LOG_PRINT_L3("BlockchainLMDB::" << __func__);
-  check_open();
-  return false;
-}
-
-// TODO: this?
-void BlockchainLMDB::unlock()
-{
-  LOG_PRINT_L3("BlockchainLMDB::" << __func__);
-  check_open();
-}
-
-
 // The below two macros are for DB access within block add/remove, whether
 // regular batch txn is in use or not. m_write_txn is used as a batch txn, even
 // if it's only within block add/remove.
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h
index 95e7b2aa4..dd0a5d30b 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h
@@ -202,10 +202,6 @@ public:
 
   virtual std::string get_db_name() const;
 
-  virtual bool lock();
-
-  virtual void unlock();
-
   virtual bool block_exists(const crypto::hash& h, uint64_t *height = NULL) const;
 
   virtual uint64_t get_block_height(const crypto::hash& h) const;
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/testdb.h b/src/blockchain_db/testdb.h
index a27183b2c..96b069772 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/testdb.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/testdb.h
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ public:
   virtual std::vector<std::string> get_filenames() const override { return std::vector<std::string>(); }
   virtual bool remove_data_file(const std::string& folder) const override { return true; }
   virtual std::string get_db_name() const override { return std::string(); }
-  virtual bool lock() override { return true; }
-  virtual void unlock() override { }
   virtual bool batch_start(uint64_t batch_num_blocks=0, uint64_t batch_bytes=0) override { return true; }
   virtual void batch_stop() override {}
   virtual void batch_abort() override {}