diff --git a/gst/gstelement.c b/gst/gstelement.c
index 3828277ef1..832ac27a1c 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.c
+++ b/gst/gstelement.c
@@ -1566,13 +1566,11 @@ gst_element_send_event (GstElement * element, GstEvent * event)
 
   oclass = GST_ELEMENT_GET_CLASS (element);
 
-  GST_STATE_LOCK (element);
   if (oclass->send_event) {
     GST_CAT_DEBUG (GST_CAT_ELEMENT_PADS, "send %s event on element %s",
         GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event), GST_ELEMENT_NAME (element));
     result = oclass->send_event (element, event);
   }
-  GST_STATE_UNLOCK (element);
 
   return result;
 }