struct snd_timer_instance *timeri;
        struct loopback_cable *cable = dpcm->cable;
 
-       spin_lock_irq(&cable->lock);
-
        /* check if timer was already opened. It is only opened once
         * per playback and capture subdevice (aka cable).
         */
        if (cable->snd_timer.instance)
-               goto unlock;
+               goto exit;
 
        err = loopback_parse_timer_id(dpcm->loopback->timer_source, &tid);
        if (err < 0) {
                pcm_err(dpcm->substream->pcm,
                        "Parsing timer source \'%s\' failed with %d",
                        dpcm->loopback->timer_source, err);
-               goto unlock;
+               goto exit;
        }
 
        cable->snd_timer.stream = dpcm->substream->stream;
        timeri = snd_timer_instance_new(dpcm->loopback->card->id);
        if (!timeri) {
                err = -ENOMEM;
-               goto unlock;
+               goto exit;
        }
        /* The callback has to be called from another tasklet. If
         * SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_FAST is specified it will be called from the
        tasklet_init(&cable->snd_timer.event_tasklet,
                     loopback_snd_timer_tasklet, (unsigned long)timeri);
 
-       /* snd_timer_close() and snd_timer_open() should not be called with
-        * locked spinlock because both functions can block on a mutex. The
-        * mutex loopback->cable_lock is kept locked. Therefore snd_timer_open()
-        * cannot be called a second time by the other device of the same cable.
+       /* The mutex loopback->cable_lock is kept locked.
+        * Therefore snd_timer_open() cannot be called a second time
+        * by the other device of the same cable.
         * Therefore the following issue cannot happen:
         * [proc1] Call loopback_timer_open() ->
         *         Unlock cable->lock for snd_timer_close/open() call
         * [proc1] Call snd_timer_open() and overwrite running timer
         *         instance
         */
-       spin_unlock_irq(&cable->lock);
        err = snd_timer_open(timeri, &cable->snd_timer.id, current->pid);
-       spin_lock_irq(&cable->lock);
        if (err < 0) {
                pcm_err(dpcm->substream->pcm,
                        "snd_timer_open (%d,%d,%d) failed with %d",
                        cable->snd_timer.id.subdevice,
                        err);
                snd_timer_instance_free(timeri);
-               goto unlock;
+               goto exit;
        }
 
        cable->snd_timer.instance = timeri;
 
-unlock:
-       spin_unlock_irq(&cable->lock);
-
+exit:
        return err;
 }