diff --git a/net/core/drop_monitor.c b/net/core/drop_monitor.c
index 5c3c81a609e5..a221a5bbecf7 100644
--- a/net/core/drop_monitor.c
+++ b/net/core/drop_monitor.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static void send_dm_alert(struct work_struct *unused);
  * netlink alerts
  */
 static int trace_state = TRACE_OFF;
-static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(trace_state_lock);
+static DEFINE_MUTEX(trace_state_mutex);
 
 struct per_cpu_dm_data {
 	struct work_struct dm_alert_work;
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ static int set_all_monitor_traces(int state)
 	struct dm_hw_stat_delta *new_stat = NULL;
 	struct dm_hw_stat_delta *temp;
 
-	spin_lock(&trace_state_lock);
+	mutex_lock(&trace_state_mutex);
 
 	if (state == trace_state) {
 		rc = -EAGAIN;
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ static int set_all_monitor_traces(int state)
 		rc = -EINPROGRESS;
 
 out_unlock:
-	spin_unlock(&trace_state_lock);
+	mutex_unlock(&trace_state_mutex);
 
 	return rc;
 }
@@ -296,12 +296,12 @@ static int dropmon_net_event(struct notifier_block *ev_block,
 
 		new_stat->dev = dev;
 		new_stat->last_rx = jiffies;
-		spin_lock(&trace_state_lock);
+		mutex_lock(&trace_state_mutex);
 		list_add_rcu(&new_stat->list, &hw_stats_list);
-		spin_unlock(&trace_state_lock);
+		mutex_unlock(&trace_state_mutex);
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_UNREGISTER:
-		spin_lock(&trace_state_lock);
+		mutex_lock(&trace_state_mutex);
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(new_stat, tmp, &hw_stats_list, list) {
 			if (new_stat->dev == dev) {
 				new_stat->dev = NULL;
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ static int dropmon_net_event(struct notifier_block *ev_block,
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		spin_unlock(&trace_state_lock);
+		mutex_unlock(&trace_state_mutex);
 		break;
 	}
 out: