diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/FollowersChecker.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/FollowersChecker.java
index dbe25fd6d90..5f166c7d3dc 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/FollowersChecker.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/FollowersChecker.java
@@ -249,11 +249,9 @@ public class FollowersChecker {
     }
 
     private void handleDisconnectedNode(DiscoveryNode discoveryNode) {
-        synchronized (mutex) {
-            FollowerChecker followerChecker = followerCheckers.get(discoveryNode);
-            if (followerChecker != null && followerChecker.running()) {
-                followerChecker.failNode("disconnected");
-            }
+        FollowerChecker followerChecker = followerCheckers.get(discoveryNode);
+        if (followerChecker != null) {
+            followerChecker.failNode("disconnected");
         }
     }