diff --git a/code/go/0chain.net/validatorcore/storage/challenge_handler.go b/code/go/0chain.net/validatorcore/storage/challenge_handler.go
index ccbd8ab46..1c0ae101b 100644
--- a/code/go/0chain.net/validatorcore/storage/challenge_handler.go
+++ b/code/go/0chain.net/validatorcore/storage/challenge_handler.go
@@ -49,15 +49,11 @@ func challengeHandler(ctx context.Context, r *http.Request) (interface{}, error)
 
 	err = challengeRequest.VerifyChallenge(challengeObj, allocationObj)
 	if err != nil {
-		statsMutex.Lock()
 		updateStats(false)
-		statsMutex.Unlock()
 		return InvalidValidationTicket(challengeObj, err)
 	}
 
-	statsMutex.Lock()
 	updateStats(false)
-	statsMutex.Unlock()
 
 	return ValidValidationTicket(challengeObj, challengeRequest.ChallengeID, challengeHash)
 }