diff --git a/include/ircd/m/vm.h b/include/ircd/m/vm.h
index bfd3d6127..409b15cc1 100644
--- a/include/ircd/m/vm.h
+++ b/include/ircd/m/vm.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ namespace ircd::m::vm
 namespace ircd::m::vm::sequence
 {
 	extern ctx::dock dock;
-	extern ctx::mutex mutex;
 	extern uint64_t retired;      // already written; always monotonic
 	extern uint64_t committed;    // pending write; usually monotonic
 	extern uint64_t uncommitted;  // evaluating; not monotonic
diff --git a/ircd/m.cc b/ircd/m.cc
index 6de48ff0b..eed69c294 100644
--- a/ircd/m.cc
+++ b/ircd/m.cc
@@ -1536,9 +1536,6 @@ ircd::m::vm::eval::operator()(const event &event)
 // sequence
 //
 
-decltype(ircd::m::vm::sequence::mutex)
-ircd::m::vm::sequence::mutex;
-
 decltype(ircd::m::vm::sequence::dock)
 ircd::m::vm::sequence::dock;
 
diff --git a/modules/m_vm.cc b/modules/m_vm.cc
index 6906e51d8..73282be8c 100644
--- a/modules/m_vm.cc
+++ b/modules/m_vm.cc
@@ -949,6 +949,12 @@ ircd::m::vm::execute_pdu(eval &eval,
 	assert(sequence::committed < sequence::get(eval));
 	assert(sequence::retired < sequence::get(eval));
 	sequence::committed = sequence::get(eval);
+	if(m::exists(event_id) && !opts.replays)
+		throw error
+		{
+			fault::EXISTS, "Write commit rejected :Event has already been evaluated."
+		};
+
 	if(opts.write)
 		write_prepare(eval, event);
 
@@ -963,17 +969,6 @@ ircd::m::vm::execute_pdu(eval &eval,
 	// Commit the transaction to database iff this eval is at the stack base.
 	if(opts.write && !eval.sequence_shared[0])
 	{
-		const std::lock_guard lock
-		{
-			sequence::mutex
-		};
-
-		if(m::exists(event_id) && !opts.replays)
-			throw error
-			{
-				fault::EXISTS, "Write commit rejected :Event has already been evaluated."
-			};
-
 		write_commit(eval);
 	}