diff --git a/spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/context/support/AbstractApplicationContext.java b/spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/context/support/AbstractApplicationContext.java
index 3fa935249cde..31ccdfa4bf67 100644
--- a/spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/context/support/AbstractApplicationContext.java
+++ b/spring-context/src/main/java/org/springframework/context/support/AbstractApplicationContext.java
@@ -979,9 +979,8 @@ public void registerShutdownHook() {
 			this.shutdownHook = new Thread(SHUTDOWN_HOOK_THREAD_NAME) {
 				@Override
 				public void run() {
-					synchronized (startupShutdownMonitor) {
-						doClose();
-					}
+					// This call is thread safe.
+					doClose();
 				}
 			};
 			Runtime.getRuntime().addShutdownHook(this.shutdownHook);