diff --git a/libnetwork/networkdb/cluster.go b/libnetwork/networkdb/cluster.go
index c3bfdd4051..37bb3536f4 100644
--- a/libnetwork/networkdb/cluster.go
+++ b/libnetwork/networkdb/cluster.go
@@ -559,10 +559,6 @@ func (nDB *NetworkDB) bulkSyncNode(networks []string, node string, unsolicited b
 		case <-t.C:
 			logrus.Errorf("Bulk sync to node %s timed out", node)
 		case <-ch:
-			nDB.Lock()
-			delete(nDB.bulkSyncAckTbl, node)
-			nDB.Unlock()
-
 			logrus.Debugf("%s: Bulk sync to node %s took %s", nDB.config.NodeName, node, time.Now().Sub(startTime))
 		}
 		t.Stop()
diff --git a/libnetwork/networkdb/delegate.go b/libnetwork/networkdb/delegate.go
index eb8d18557d..e886cfcab2 100644
--- a/libnetwork/networkdb/delegate.go
+++ b/libnetwork/networkdb/delegate.go
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@ func (nDB *NetworkDB) handleBulkSync(buf []byte) {
 
 	// Don't respond to a bulk sync which was not unsolicited
 	if !bsm.Unsolicited {
-		nDB.RLock()
+		nDB.Lock()
 		ch, ok := nDB.bulkSyncAckTbl[bsm.NodeName]
-		nDB.RUnlock()
 		if ok {
 			close(ch)
+			delete(nDB.bulkSyncAckTbl, bsm.NodeName)
 		}
+		nDB.Unlock()
 
 		return
 	}