diff --git a/db/utils.c b/db/utils.c
index 8c4781890..d6234179d 100644
--- a/db/utils.c
+++ b/db/utils.c
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ bool db_query_prepared_canfail(struct db_stmt *stmt)
 	assert(stmt->query->readonly);
 	trace_span_start("db_query_prepared", stmt);
 	trace_span_tag(stmt, "query", stmt->query->query);
-	db_need_transaction(stmt->db, stmt->query->query);
 	ret = stmt->db->config->query_fn(stmt);
 	stmt->executed = true;
 	list_del_from(&stmt->db->pending_statements, &stmt->list);