diff --git a/walkeeper/src/replication.rs b/walkeeper/src/replication.rs
index 87faa57bfc..14e34ac8fc 100644
--- a/walkeeper/src/replication.rs
+++ b/walkeeper/src/replication.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use std::fs::File;
 use std::io::{BufReader, Read, Seek, SeekFrom, Write};
 use std::net::TcpStream;
 use std::path::Path;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::{str, thread};
 use zenith_utils::bin_ser::BeSer;
 use zenith_utils::lsn::Lsn;
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub struct ReplicationConn {
     /// `take` it from us.
     stream_in: Option<BufReader<TcpStream>>,
     /// Postgres connection, output
-    stream_out: Mutex<TcpStream>,
+    stream_out: TcpStream,
     /// wal acceptor configuration
     conf: WalAcceptorConf,
     /// assigned application name
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl ReplicationConn {
         Self {
             timeline: conn.timeline,
             stream_in: Some(conn.stream_in),
-            stream_out: Mutex::new(conn.stream_out),
+            stream_out: conn.stream_out,
             conf: conn.conf,
             appname: None,
         }
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@ impl ReplicationConn {
             outbuf.put_u64(get_current_timestamp());
 
             assert!(outbuf.len() + file_buf.len() == msg_size);
-            // FIXME: combine these two into a single send,
-            // so that no other traffic can be sent in between them.
+            // This thread has exclusive access to the TcpStream, so it's fine
+            // to do this as two separate calls.
             self.send(&outbuf)?;
             self.send(&file_buf)?;
             start_pos += send_size as u64;
@@ -230,10 +230,9 @@ impl ReplicationConn {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    /// Unlock the mutex and send bytes on the network.
-    fn send(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
-        let mut writer = self.stream_out.lock().unwrap();
-        writer.write_all(buf.as_ref())?;
+    /// Send messages on the network.
+    fn send(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        self.stream_out.write_all(buf.as_ref())?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }