diff --git a/server/lease/lease.go b/server/lease/lease.go
index 95f3eb6f7568..8f194c98030c 100644
--- a/server/lease/lease.go
+++ b/server/lease/lease.go
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ func (l *Lease) forever() {
 
 // Demoted returns true if the lease's expiry has been reset to forever.
 func (l *Lease) Demoted() bool {
-	l.expiryMu.Lock()
-	defer l.expiryMu.Unlock()
+	l.expiryMu.RLock()
+	defer l.expiryMu.RUnlock()
 	return l.expiry == forever
 }