diff --git a/src/detect-lua-extensions.c b/src/detect-lua-extensions.c
index 44a8cfd216..6bd5c2453b 100644
--- a/src/detect-lua-extensions.c
+++ b/src/detect-lua-extensions.c
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ static int LuaGetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     Flow *f;
     FlowVar *fv;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
 
     /* need luajit data for id -> idx conversion */
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&luaext_key_ld);
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ static int LuaGetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -120,15 +119,8 @@ static int LuaGetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
         return 2;
     }
 
-    /* lookup var */
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-
     fv = FlowVarGet(f, idx);
     if (fv == NULL) {
-        if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-            FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow var");
         return 2;
@@ -137,9 +129,6 @@ static int LuaGetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     LuaPushStringBuffer(luastate, (const uint8_t *)fv->data.fv_str.value,
             (size_t)fv->data.fv_str.value_len);
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
     return 1;
 
 }
@@ -154,7 +143,6 @@ int LuaSetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     uint8_t *buffer;
     DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
 
     /* need luajit data for id -> idx conversion */
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&luaext_key_ld);
@@ -179,7 +167,7 @@ int LuaSetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -239,10 +227,7 @@ int LuaSetFlowvar(lua_State *luastate)
     memcpy(buffer, str, len);
     buffer[len] = '\0';
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FlowVarAddStr(f, idx, buffer, len);
-    else
-        FlowVarAddStrNoLock(f, idx, buffer, len);
+    FlowVarAddStr(f, idx, buffer, len);
 
     //SCLogInfo("stored:");
     //PrintRawDataFp(stdout,buffer,len);
@@ -256,7 +241,6 @@ static int LuaGetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     Flow *f;
     FlowVar *fv;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
     uint32_t number;
 
     /* need luajit data for id -> idx conversion */
@@ -271,7 +255,7 @@ static int LuaGetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -301,24 +285,15 @@ static int LuaGetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* lookup var */
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-
     fv = FlowVarGet(f, idx);
     if (fv == NULL) {
         SCLogDebug("fv NULL");
-        if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-            FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow var");
         return 2;
     }
     number = fv->data.fv_int.value;
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
     /* return value through luastate, as a luanumber */
     lua_pushnumber(luastate, (lua_Number)number);
     SCLogDebug("retrieved flow:%p idx:%u value:%u", f, idx, number);
@@ -334,7 +309,6 @@ int LuaSetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     Flow *f;
     DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
     uint32_t number;
     lua_Number luanumber;
 
@@ -361,7 +335,7 @@ int LuaSetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -401,10 +375,7 @@ int LuaSetFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
         return 2;
     }
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FlowVarAddInt(f, idx, number);
-    else
-        FlowVarAddIntNoLock(f, idx, number);
+    FlowVarAddInt(f, idx, number);
 
     SCLogDebug("stored flow:%p idx:%u value:%u", f, idx, number);
     return 0;
@@ -417,7 +388,6 @@ static int LuaIncrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     Flow *f;
     FlowVar *fv;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
     uint32_t number;
 
     /* need luajit data for id -> idx conversion */
@@ -432,7 +402,7 @@ static int LuaIncrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -462,9 +432,6 @@ static int LuaIncrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* lookup var */
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-
     fv = FlowVarGet(f, idx);
     if (fv == NULL) {
         number = 1;
@@ -475,9 +442,6 @@ static int LuaIncrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
     FlowVarAddIntNoLock(f, idx, number);
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
     /* return value through luastate, as a luanumber */
     lua_pushnumber(luastate, (lua_Number)number);
     SCLogDebug("incremented flow:%p idx:%u value:%u", f, idx, number);
@@ -493,7 +457,6 @@ static int LuaDecrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     Flow *f;
     FlowVar *fv;
     DetectLuaData *ld;
-    int flow_lock = 0;
     uint32_t number;
 
     /* need luajit data for id -> idx conversion */
@@ -508,7 +471,7 @@ static int LuaDecrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* need flow and lock hint */
-    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &flow_lock);
+    f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL) {
         lua_pushnil(luastate);
         lua_pushstring(luastate, "no flow");
@@ -538,9 +501,6 @@ static int LuaDecrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
 
     /* lookup var */
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-
     fv = FlowVarGet(f, idx);
     if (fv == NULL) {
         number = 0;
@@ -551,9 +511,6 @@ static int LuaDecrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
     }
     FlowVarAddIntNoLock(f, idx, number);
 
-    if (flow_lock == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-
     /* return value through luastate, as a luanumber */
     lua_pushnumber(luastate, (lua_Number)number);
     SCLogDebug("decremented flow:%p idx:%u value:%u", f, idx, number);
@@ -563,7 +520,7 @@ static int LuaDecrFlowint(lua_State *luastate)
 }
 
 void LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(lua_State *lua_state, DetectLuaData *ld, DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx,
-        Flow *f, int flow_locked, Packet *p, uint8_t flags)
+        Flow *f, Packet *p, uint8_t flags)
 {
     SCLogDebug("det_ctx %p, f %p", det_ctx, f);
 
@@ -577,9 +534,9 @@ void LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(lua_State *lua_state, DetectLuaData *ld, DetectEngi
     lua_pushlightuserdata(lua_state, (void *)det_ctx);
     lua_settable(lua_state, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
 
-    LuaStateSetFlow(lua_state, f, flow_locked);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(lua_state, f);
 
-    if (det_ctx->tx_id_set && flow_locked == LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
+    if (det_ctx->tx_id_set) {
         if (f && f->alstate) {
             void *txptr = AppLayerParserGetTx(f->proto, f->alproto, f->alstate, det_ctx->tx_id);
             if (txptr) {
diff --git a/src/detect-lua-extensions.h b/src/detect-lua-extensions.h
index b8aa27366e..54a465783e 100644
--- a/src/detect-lua-extensions.h
+++ b/src/detect-lua-extensions.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ int LuaRegisterExtensions(lua_State *);
 
 void LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(lua_State *lua_state,
         DetectLuaData *, DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx,
-        Flow *f, int flow_locked, Packet *p, uint8_t flags);
+        Flow *f, Packet *p, uint8_t flags);
 
 #endif /* HAVE_LUA */
 #endif
diff --git a/src/detect-lua.c b/src/detect-lua.c
index 99cb13be37..3343a6be76 100644
--- a/src/detect-lua.c
+++ b/src/detect-lua.c
@@ -309,13 +309,8 @@ int DetectLuaMatchBuffer(DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx, Signature *s, SigMatch
     if (tluajit == NULL)
         SCReturnInt(0);
 
-    /* setup extension data for use in lua c functions */
-    int flow_lock = (f != NULL) ? /* if we have a flow, it's locked */
-        LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT :
-        LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT;
-
     LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(tluajit->luastate, luajit, det_ctx,
-            f, flow_lock, /* no packet in the ctx */NULL, 0);
+            f, /* no packet in the ctx */NULL, 0);
 
     /* prepare data to pass to script */
     lua_getglobal(tluajit->luastate, "match");
@@ -424,12 +419,8 @@ static int DetectLuaMatch (ThreadVars *tv, DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ctx,
 
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(tluajit->luastate, tv);
 
-    int flow_lock = (p->flow != NULL) ? /* if we have a flow, it's locked */
-        LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT :
-        LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT;
-
     LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(tluajit->luastate, luajit, det_ctx,
-            p->flow, flow_lock, p, flags);
+            p->flow, p, flags);
 
     if ((tluajit->flags & DATATYPE_PAYLOAD) && p->payload_len == 0)
         SCReturnInt(0);
@@ -554,8 +545,7 @@ static int DetectLuaAppMatchCommon (ThreadVars *t, DetectEngineThreadCtx *det_ct
 
     /* setup extension data for use in lua c functions */
     LuaExtensionsMatchSetup(tluajit->luastate, luajit, det_ctx,
-            f, /* flow is locked */LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT,
-            NULL, flags);
+            f, NULL, flags);
 
     if (tluajit->alproto != ALPROTO_UNKNOWN) {
         int alproto = f->alproto;
diff --git a/src/output-lua.c b/src/output-lua.c
index 1bd1aae695..b71b0e3736 100644
--- a/src/output-lua.c
+++ b/src/output-lua.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static int LuaTxLogger(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Packet *p, Flow
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
     LuaStateSetPacket(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Packet *)p);
     LuaStateSetTX(td->lua_ctx->luastate, txptr);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, f, /* locked */LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, f);
 
     /* prepare data to pass to script */
     lua_getglobal(td->lua_ctx->luastate, "log");
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static int LuaStreamingLogger(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Flow *f,
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
     if (flags & OUTPUT_STREAMING_FLAG_TRANSACTION)
         LuaStateSetTX(td->lua_ctx->luastate, txptr);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Flow *)f, /* locked */LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Flow *)f);
     LuaStateSetStreamingBuffer(td->lua_ctx->luastate, &b);
 
     /* prepare data to pass to script */
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ static int LuaPacketLoggerAlerts(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Packet
 
         LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
         LuaStateSetPacket(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Packet *)p);
-        LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow, /* unlocked */LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+        LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow);
         LuaStateSetPacketAlert(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (PacketAlert *)pa);
 
         /* prepare data to pass to script */
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static int LuaPacketLoggerSsh(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Packet *p
 
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
     LuaStateSetPacket(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Packet *)p);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow, /* unlocked */LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow);
 
     int retval = lua_pcall(td->lua_ctx->luastate, 0, 0, 0);
     if (retval != 0) {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ static int LuaPacketLogger(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Packet *p)
 
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
     LuaStateSetPacket(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Packet *)p);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow, /* unlocked */LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow);
 
     /* prepare data to pass to script */
     lua_newtable(td->lua_ctx->luastate);
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ static int LuaFileLogger(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, const Packet *p, con
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
     LuaStateSetPacket(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (Packet *)p);
     LuaStateSetTX(td->lua_ctx->luastate, txptr);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow, /* locked */LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, p->flow);
     LuaStateSetFile(td->lua_ctx->luastate, (File *)ff);
 
     /* get the lua function to call */
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ static int LuaFlowLogger(ThreadVars *tv, void *thread_data, Flow *f)
     SCMutexLock(&td->lua_ctx->m);
 
     LuaStateSetThreadVars(td->lua_ctx->luastate, tv);
-    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, f, /* locked */LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT);
+    LuaStateSetFlow(td->lua_ctx->luastate, f);
 
     /* get the lua function to call */
     lua_getglobal(td->lua_ctx->luastate, "log");
diff --git a/src/util-lua-common.c b/src/util-lua-common.c
index d44d5a7c82..367374d76c 100644
--- a/src/util-lua-common.c
+++ b/src/util-lua-common.c
@@ -210,18 +210,12 @@ static int LuaCallbackTimeStringPushToStackFromFlow(lua_State *luastate, const F
 static int LuaCallbackFlowTimeString(lua_State *luastate)
 {
     int r = 0;
-    int locked = 0;
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &locked);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (flow == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (locked == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        r = LuaCallbackTimeStringPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, flow);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-    } else {
-        r = LuaCallbackTimeStringPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, flow);
-    }
+    r = LuaCallbackTimeStringPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, flow);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -345,18 +339,12 @@ static int LuaCallbackTuplePushToStackFromFlow(lua_State *luastate, const Flow *
 static int LuaCallbackTupleFlow(lua_State *luastate)
 {
     int r = 0;
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = LuaCallbackTuplePushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = LuaCallbackTuplePushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = LuaCallbackTuplePushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -384,18 +372,12 @@ static int LuaCallbackAppLayerProtoPushToStackFromFlow(lua_State *luastate, cons
 static int LuaCallbackAppLayerProtoFlow(lua_State *luastate)
 {
     int r = 0;
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = LuaCallbackAppLayerProtoPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = LuaCallbackAppLayerProtoPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = LuaCallbackAppLayerProtoPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -423,18 +405,12 @@ static int LuaCallbackStatsPushToStackFromFlow(lua_State *luastate, const Flow *
 static int LuaCallbackStatsFlow(lua_State *luastate)
 {
     int r = 0;
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = LuaCallbackStatsPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = LuaCallbackStatsPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = LuaCallbackStatsPushToStackFromFlow(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -771,18 +747,11 @@ int LuaRegisterFunctions(lua_State *luastate)
 int LuaStateNeedProto(lua_State *luastate, AppProto alproto)
 {
     AppProto flow_alproto = 0;
-    int locked = 0;
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &locked);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (flow == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (locked == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        flow_alproto = flow->alproto;
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-    } else {
-        flow_alproto = flow->alproto;
-    }
+    flow_alproto = flow->alproto;
 
     return (alproto == flow_alproto);
 
diff --git a/src/util-lua-smtp.c b/src/util-lua-smtp.c
index a64c709832..8fca9131a1 100644
--- a/src/util-lua-smtp.c
+++ b/src/util-lua-smtp.c
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ static int SMTPGetMimeField(lua_State *luastate)
     if(!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SMTP))) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not SMTP");
     }
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     /* check that flow exist */
     if(flow == NULL) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Error: no flow found");
@@ -115,17 +114,8 @@ static int SMTPGetMimeField(lua_State *luastate)
     if (name == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "1st argument missing, empty or wrong type");
 
-    /* lock check */
-    if(lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        /* get specific MIME field */
-        GetMimeDecField(luastate, flow, name);
-        /* unlock flow mutex to allow for multithreading */
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-        /* return number of fields pushed to luastate */
-    } else { /* if mutex already locked */
-        GetMimeDecField(luastate, flow, name);
-    }
+    GetMimeDecField(luastate, flow, name);
+
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -195,22 +185,14 @@ static int SMTPGetMimeList(lua_State *luastate)
     if(!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SMTP))) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Error: protocol not SMTP");
     }
-    /* mutex lock indicator var */
-    int lock_hint = 0;
     /* Extract network flow */
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if(flow == NULL) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Error: no flow found");
     }
-    /* check if flow already locked */
-    if(lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        /* mutexlock flow */
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        GetMimeList(luastate, flow);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-    } else {
-        GetMimeList(luastate, flow);
-    }
+
+    GetMimeList(luastate, flow);
+
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -260,22 +242,14 @@ static int SMTPGetMailFrom(lua_State *luastate)
     if(!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SMTP))) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Error: protocol not SMTP");
     }
-    /* use lock_hint to check for mutexlock on flow */
-    int lock_hint = 0;
     /* Extract flow, with lockhint to check mutexlocking */
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if(flow == NULL) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Internal Error: no flow");
     }
-    /* check if already mutexlocked by parents */
-    if(lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        /* mutexlock flow */
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        GetMailFrom(luastate, flow);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-    } else {
-        GetMailFrom(luastate, flow);
-    }
+
+    GetMailFrom(luastate, flow);
+
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -335,23 +309,14 @@ static int SMTPGetRcptList(lua_State *luastate)
     if(!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SMTP))) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Error: protocol not SMTP");
     }
-    /* create lockhint var for flowlock check. */
-    int lock_hint = 0;
     /* Extract flow, with lockhint to check mutexlocking */
-    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *flow = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if(flow == NULL) {
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "Internal error: no flow");
     }
-    /* check if already mutexlocked by parents */
-    if(lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        /* lock flow */
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(flow);
-        GetRcptList(luastate, flow);
-        /* open flow */
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(flow);
-    } else {
-        GetRcptList(luastate, flow);
-    }
+
+    GetRcptList(luastate, flow);
+
     /* return 1 since we allways push one table to luastate */
     return 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/util-lua-ssh.c b/src/util-lua-ssh.c
index df232c8118..892190080f 100644
--- a/src/util-lua-ssh.c
+++ b/src/util-lua-ssh.c
@@ -79,18 +79,12 @@ static int SshGetServerProtoVersion(lua_State *luastate)
     if (!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SSH)))
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not ssh");
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetServerProtoVersion(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetServerProtoVersion(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = GetServerProtoVersion(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -116,18 +110,12 @@ static int SshGetServerSoftwareVersion(lua_State *luastate)
     if (!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SSH)))
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not ssh");
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetServerSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetServerSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = GetServerSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -153,18 +141,12 @@ static int SshGetClientProtoVersion(lua_State *luastate)
     if (!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SSH)))
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not ssh");
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetClientProtoVersion(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetClientProtoVersion(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = GetClientProtoVersion(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -190,18 +172,12 @@ static int SshGetClientSoftwareVersion(lua_State *luastate)
     if (!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_SSH)))
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not ssh");
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetClientSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetClientSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = GetClientSoftwareVersion(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util-lua-tls.c b/src/util-lua-tls.c
index e17e512e41..5d0a7491eb 100644
--- a/src/util-lua-tls.c
+++ b/src/util-lua-tls.c
@@ -118,18 +118,12 @@ static int TlsGetCertInfo(lua_State *luastate)
 
     int direction = LuaStateGetDirection(luastate);
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetCertInfo(luastate, f, direction);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetCertInfo(luastate, f, direction);
-    }
+    r = GetCertInfo(luastate, f, direction);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -155,18 +149,12 @@ static int TlsGetSNI(lua_State *luastate)
     if (!(LuaStateNeedProto(luastate, ALPROTO_TLS)))
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "error: protocol not tls");
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetSNI(luastate, f);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetSNI(luastate, f);
-    }
+    r = GetSNI(luastate, f);
+
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -217,18 +205,12 @@ static int TlsGetCertChain(lua_State *luastate)
 
     int direction = LuaStateGetDirection(luastate);
 
-    int lock_hint = 0;
-    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate, &lock_hint);
+    Flow *f = LuaStateGetFlow(luastate);
     if (f == NULL)
         return LuaCallbackError(luastate, "internal error: no flow");
 
-    if (lock_hint == LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) {
-        FLOWLOCK_RDLOCK(f);
-        r = GetCertChain(luastate, f, direction);
-        FLOWLOCK_UNLOCK(f);
-    } else {
-        r = GetCertChain(luastate, f, direction);
-    }
+    r = GetCertChain(luastate, f, direction);
+
     return r;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util-lua.c b/src/util-lua.c
index 32d206c35b..54524826bd 100644
--- a/src/util-lua.c
+++ b/src/util-lua.c
@@ -124,10 +124,9 @@ void LuaStateSetTX(lua_State *luastate, void *txptr)
     lua_settable(luastate, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
 }
 
-Flow *LuaStateGetFlow(lua_State *luastate, int *lock_hint)
+Flow *LuaStateGetFlow(lua_State *luastate)
 {
     Flow *f = NULL;
-    int need_flow_lock = 0;
 
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&lua_ext_key_flow);
     lua_gettable(luastate, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
@@ -136,13 +135,11 @@ Flow *LuaStateGetFlow(lua_State *luastate, int *lock_hint)
     /* need flow lock hint */
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&lua_ext_key_flow_lock_hint);
     lua_gettable(luastate, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
-    need_flow_lock = lua_toboolean(luastate, -1);
 
-    *lock_hint = need_flow_lock;
     return f;
 }
 
-void LuaStateSetFlow(lua_State *luastate, Flow *f, int need_flow_lock)
+void LuaStateSetFlow(lua_State *luastate, Flow *f)
 {
     /* flow */
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&lua_ext_key_flow);
@@ -151,7 +148,8 @@ void LuaStateSetFlow(lua_State *luastate, Flow *f, int need_flow_lock)
 
     /* flow lock status hint */
     lua_pushlightuserdata(luastate, (void *)&lua_ext_key_flow_lock_hint);
-    lua_pushboolean(luastate, need_flow_lock);
+    /* locking is not required, set to 0 for backwards compatibility */
+    lua_pushboolean(luastate, 0);
     lua_settable(luastate, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util-lua.h b/src/util-lua.h
index 4ea4c60513..492007a62a 100644
--- a/src/util-lua.h
+++ b/src/util-lua.h
@@ -32,9 +32,6 @@ typedef struct LuaStreamingBuffer_ {
     uint8_t flags;
 } LuaStreamingBuffer;
 
-#define LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT       0
-#define LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT   1
-
 /* gets */
 
 /** \brief get tv pointer from the lua state */
@@ -44,14 +41,10 @@ Packet *LuaStateGetPacket(lua_State *luastate);
 void *LuaStateGetTX(lua_State *luastate);
 
 /** \brief get flow pointer from lua state
- *
- *  \param locked_by_parent[out] bool indicating if flow is locked
- *                          (LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) or unlocked
- *                          (LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
  *
  *  \retval f flow poiner or NULL if it was not set
  */
-Flow *LuaStateGetFlow(lua_State *luastate, int *locked_by_parent);
+Flow *LuaStateGetFlow(lua_State *luastate);
 
 PacketAlert *LuaStateGetPacketAlert(lua_State *luastate);
 
@@ -70,11 +63,8 @@ void LuaStateSetTX(lua_State *luastate, void *tx);
 /** \brief set a flow pointer in the lua state
  *
  *  \param f flow pointer
- *  \param locked_by_parent bool indicating if flow is locked
- *                          (LUA_FLOW_LOCKED_BY_PARENT) or unlocked
- *                          (LUA_FLOW_NOT_LOCKED_BY_PARENT)
  */
-void LuaStateSetFlow(lua_State *luastate, Flow *f, int locked_by_parent);
+void LuaStateSetFlow(lua_State *luastate, Flow *f);
 
 void LuaStateSetPacketAlert(lua_State *luastate, PacketAlert *pa);