diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/geometry/level.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/geometry/level.py
index 3b711e76..f894570a 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/geometry/level.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/geometry/level.py
@@ -439,51 +439,49 @@ class AltitudeArea(LevelGeometryMixin, models.Model):
             level_areas[level] = set(area.tmpid for area in level_areas.get(level, []))
 
         # save to database
-        from c3nav.mapdata.models import MapUpdate
-        with MapUpdate.lock():
-            areas_to_save = set(range(len(areas)))
+        areas_to_save = set(range(len(areas)))
 
-            all_candidates = AltitudeArea.objects.select_related('level')
-            for candidate in all_candidates:
-                candidate.area = candidate.geometry.area
-            all_candidates = sorted(all_candidates, key=attrgetter('area'), reverse=True)
+        all_candidates = AltitudeArea.objects.select_related('level')
+        for candidate in all_candidates:
+            candidate.area = candidate.geometry.area
+        all_candidates = sorted(all_candidates, key=attrgetter('area'), reverse=True)
 
-            num_modified = 0
-            num_deleted = 0
-            num_created = 0
+        num_modified = 0
+        num_deleted = 0
+        num_created = 0
 
-            for candidate in all_candidates:
-                new_area = None
-                for tmpid in level_areas.get(candidate.level, set()):
-                    area = areas[tmpid]
-                    if area.geometry.almost_equals(candidate.geometry, 1):
-                        new_area = area
-                        break
+        for candidate in all_candidates:
+            new_area = None
+            for tmpid in level_areas.get(candidate.level, set()):
+                area = areas[tmpid]
+                if area.geometry.almost_equals(candidate.geometry, 1):
+                    new_area = area
+                    break
 
-                if new_area is None:
-                    potential_areas = [(tmpid, areas[tmpid].geometry.intersection(candidate.geometry.buffer(0)).area)
-                                       for tmpid in level_areas.get(candidate.level, set())]
-                    potential_areas = [(tmpid, size) for tmpid, size in potential_areas
-                                       if candidate.area and size/candidate.area > 0.9]
-                    if potential_areas:
-                        num_modified += 1
-                        new_area = areas[max(potential_areas, key=itemgetter(1))[0]]
+            if new_area is None:
+                potential_areas = [(tmpid, areas[tmpid].geometry.intersection(candidate.geometry.buffer(0)).area)
+                                   for tmpid in level_areas.get(candidate.level, set())]
+                potential_areas = [(tmpid, size) for tmpid, size in potential_areas
+                                   if candidate.area and size/candidate.area > 0.9]
+                if potential_areas:
+                    num_modified += 1
+                    new_area = areas[max(potential_areas, key=itemgetter(1))[0]]
 
-                if new_area is None:
-                    candidate.delete()
-                    num_deleted += 1
-                    continue
+            if new_area is None:
+                candidate.delete()
+                num_deleted += 1
+                continue
 
-                candidate.geometry = new_area.geometry
-                candidate.altitude = new_area.altitude
-                candidate.save()
-                areas_to_save.discard(new_area.tmpid)
-                level_areas[new_area.level].discard(new_area.tmpid)
+            candidate.geometry = new_area.geometry
+            candidate.altitude = new_area.altitude
+            candidate.save()
+            areas_to_save.discard(new_area.tmpid)
+            level_areas[new_area.level].discard(new_area.tmpid)
 
-            for tmpid in areas_to_save:
-                num_created += 1
-                areas[tmpid].save()
+        for tmpid in areas_to_save:
+            num_created += 1
+            areas[tmpid].save()
 
-            logger = logging.getLogger('c3nav')
-            logger.info(_('%d altitude areas built.') % len(areas))
-            logger.info(_('%d modified, %d deleted, %d created.') % (num_modified, num_deleted, num_created))
+        logger = logging.getLogger('c3nav')
+        logger.info(_('%d altitude areas built.') % len(areas))
+        logger.info(_('%d modified, %d deleted, %d created.') % (num_modified, num_deleted, num_created))