diff --git a/src/StorageCache.cpp b/src/StorageCache.cpp
index e33c97ff7..98c797c71 100644
--- a/src/StorageCache.cpp
+++ b/src/StorageCache.cpp
@@ -130,9 +130,10 @@ void StorageCache::retrieve(sds key, IStorage::callbackSingle fn) const
 
 size_t StorageCache::count() const
 {
-    std::unique_lock<fastlock> ul(m_lock);
+    std::unique_lock<fastlock> ul(m_lock, std::defer_lock);
+    bool fLocked = ul.try_lock();
     size_t count = m_spstorage->count();
-    if (m_pdict != nullptr) {
+    if (m_pdict != nullptr && fLocked) {
         serverAssert(bulkInsertsInProgress.load(std::memory_order_seq_cst) || count == (dictSize(m_pdict) + m_collisionCount));
     }
     return count;
@@ -140,6 +141,5 @@ size_t StorageCache::count() const
 
 void StorageCache::beginWriteBatch() { 
     serverAssert(GlobalLocksAcquired());    // Otherwise we deadlock
-    m_lock.lock();
     m_spstorage->beginWriteBatch(); 
 }
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