diff --git a/pkg/cri/store/sandbox/sandbox.go b/pkg/cri/store/sandbox/sandbox.go
index 35e4603a2..26dd8f6db 100644
--- a/pkg/cri/store/sandbox/sandbox.go
+++ b/pkg/cri/store/sandbox/sandbox.go
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ func (s *Store) List() []Sandbox {
 // stats present in 'newContainerStats'. Returns errdefs.ErrNotFound
 // if the sandbox does not exist in the store.
 func (s *Store) UpdateContainerStats(id string, newContainerStats *stats.ContainerStats) error {
-	s.lock.RLock()
-	defer s.lock.RUnlock()
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
 	id, err := s.idIndex.Get(id)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err == truncindex.ErrNotExist {