diff --git a/chain/src/chain.rs b/chain/src/chain.rs
index 34fe38f82..53842534f 100644
--- a/chain/src/chain.rs
+++ b/chain/src/chain.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ impl OrphanBlockPool {
 			let mut heights = height_idx.keys().cloned().collect::<Vec<u64>>();
 			heights.sort_unstable();
 			for h in heights.iter().rev() {
-				let _ = self.remove_by_height(h);
+				let _ = self.remove_by_height_nolock(h);
 				if orphans.len() < MAX_ORPHAN_SIZE {
 					break;
 				}
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ impl OrphanBlockPool {
 	fn remove_by_height(&self, height: &u64) -> Option<Vec<Orphan>> {
 		let mut orphans = self.orphans.write().unwrap();
 		let mut height_idx = self.height_idx.write().unwrap();
+		self.remove_by_height_nolock(height)
+	}
+
+	fn remove_by_height_nolock(&self, height: &u64) -> Option<Vec<Orphan>> {
 		height_idx
 			.remove(height)
 			.map(|hs| hs.iter().filter_map(|h| orphans.remove(h)).collect())