diff --git a/include/exec/ram_addr.h b/include/exec/ram_addr.h
index f96777bb99..44dcc98de6 100644
--- a/include/exec/ram_addr.h
+++ b/include/exec/ram_addr.h
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ static inline void cpu_physical_memory_clear_dirty_range(ram_addr_t start,
 }
 
 
+/* Called with RCU critical section */
 static inline
 uint64_t cpu_physical_memory_sync_dirty_bitmap(RAMBlock *rb,
                                                ram_addr_t start,
@@ -432,8 +433,6 @@ uint64_t cpu_physical_memory_sync_dirty_bitmap(RAMBlock *rb,
                                         DIRTY_MEMORY_BLOCK_SIZE);
         unsigned long page = BIT_WORD(start >> TARGET_PAGE_BITS);
 
-        rcu_read_lock();
-
         src = atomic_rcu_read(
                 &ram_list.dirty_memory[DIRTY_MEMORY_MIGRATION])->blocks;
 
@@ -453,8 +452,6 @@ uint64_t cpu_physical_memory_sync_dirty_bitmap(RAMBlock *rb,
                 idx++;
             }
         }
-
-        rcu_read_unlock();
     } else {
         ram_addr_t offset = rb->offset;
 
diff --git a/migration/ram.c b/migration/ram.c
index 89eec7ee9d..48969db84b 100644
--- a/migration/ram.c
+++ b/migration/ram.c
@@ -1674,6 +1674,7 @@ static inline bool migration_bitmap_clear_dirty(RAMState *rs,
     return ret;
 }
 
+/* Called with RCU critical section */
 static void migration_bitmap_sync_range(RAMState *rs, RAMBlock *rb,
                                         ram_addr_t length)
 {