diff --git a/internal/consensus/state.go b/internal/consensus/state.go
index 59ebf3044..2046fb4d6 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/state.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/state.go
@@ -1453,23 +1453,14 @@ func (cs *State) enterPrecommit(height int64, round int32) {
 	}
 
 	// There was a polka in this round for a block we don't have.
-	// Fetch that block, unlock, and precommit nil.
-	// The +2/3 prevotes for this round is the POL for our unlock.
+	// Fetch that block, and precommit nil.
 	logger.Debug("precommit step; +2/3 prevotes for a block we do not have; voting nil", "block_id", blockID)
 
-	cs.LockedRound = -1
-	cs.LockedBlock = nil
-	cs.LockedBlockParts = nil
-
 	if !cs.ProposalBlockParts.HasHeader(blockID.PartSetHeader) {
 		cs.ProposalBlock = nil
 		cs.ProposalBlockParts = types.NewPartSetFromHeader(blockID.PartSetHeader)
 	}
 
-	if err := cs.eventBus.PublishEventUnlock(cs.RoundStateEvent()); err != nil {
-		logger.Error("failed publishing event unlock", "err", err)
-	}
-
 	cs.signAddVote(tmproto.PrecommitType, nil, types.PartSetHeader{})
 }
 
@@ -2064,25 +2055,6 @@ func (cs *State) addVote(vote *types.Vote, peerID types.NodeID) (added bool, err
 			// Greater than 2/3 of the voting power on the network voted for some
 			// non-nil block
 
-			// If we locked a different block in an earlier round, unlock it.
-			// We are going to relock a new block when we precommit, so this unlock
-			// is only temporary.
-			if (cs.LockedBlock != nil) &&
-				(cs.LockedRound < vote.Round) &&
-				(vote.Round <= cs.Round) &&
-				!cs.LockedBlock.HashesTo(blockID.Hash) {
-
-				cs.Logger.Debug("unlocking because of POL for non-nil block", "locked_round", cs.LockedRound, "pol_round", vote.Round)
-
-				cs.LockedRound = -1
-				cs.LockedBlock = nil
-				cs.LockedBlockParts = nil
-
-				if err := cs.eventBus.PublishEventUnlock(cs.RoundStateEvent()); err != nil {
-					return added, err
-				}
-			}
-
 			// Update Valid* if we can.
 			if cs.ValidRound < vote.Round && vote.Round == cs.Round {
 				if cs.ProposalBlock.HashesTo(blockID.Hash) {
diff --git a/internal/consensus/state_test.go b/internal/consensus/state_test.go
index b167eeaa0..25d062046 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/state_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/state_test.go
@@ -622,7 +622,6 @@ func TestStateLockPOLRelock(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	addr := pv1.Address()
 	voteCh := subscribeToVoter(cs1, addr)
-	unlockCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryUnlock)
 	lockCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryLock)
 	newRoundCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryNewRound)
 	newBlockCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryNewBlockHeader)
@@ -700,8 +699,6 @@ func TestStateLockPOLRelock(t *testing.T) {
 	// now lets add prevotes from everyone else for the new block
 	signAddVotes(config, cs1, tmproto.PrevoteType, propBlockHash, propBlockParts.Header(), vs2, vs3, vs4)
 
-	// check that we unlock on the old block
-	ensureNewUnlock(t, unlockCh, height, round)
 	// check that we lock on the new block
 	ensureLock(t, lockCh, height, round)
 
@@ -719,6 +716,9 @@ func TestStateLockPOLRelock(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestStatePOLDoesNotUnlock tests that a validator maintains its locked block
 // despite receiving +2/3 nil prevotes and nil precommits from other validators.
+// Tendermint used to 'unlock' its locked block when greater than 2/3 prevotes
+// for a block nil were seen. This behavior has been removed and this test ensures
+// that it has been completely removed.
 func TestStatePOLDoesNotUnlock(t *testing.T) {
 	config := configSetup(t)
 	/*
@@ -1118,7 +1118,6 @@ func TestStateLockPOLSafety2(t *testing.T) {
 	proposalCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryCompleteProposal)
 	timeoutWaitCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryTimeoutWait)
 	newRoundCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryNewRound)
-	unlockCh := subscribe(cs1.eventBus, types.EventQueryUnlock)
 	pv1, err := cs1.privValidator.GetPubKey(context.Background())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	addr := pv1.Address()
@@ -1194,7 +1193,6 @@ func TestStateLockPOLSafety2(t *testing.T) {
 	*/
 	ensureNewProposal(t, proposalCh, height, round)
 
-	ensureNoNewUnlock(t, unlockCh)
 	ensurePrevote(t, voteCh, height, round)
 	validatePrevote(t, cs1, round, vss[0], propBlockHash1)