diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/hyperv/test_snapshotops.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/hyperv/test_snapshotops.py
index d95006cb79fe..4f4cf592e15f 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/hyperv/test_snapshotops.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/hyperv/test_snapshotops.py
@@ -16,10 +16,8 @@
 import os
 
 import mock
-from os_win import exceptions as os_win_exc
 
 from nova.compute import task_states
-from nova import exception
 from nova.tests.unit import fake_instance
 from nova.tests.unit.virt.hyperv import test_base
 from nova.virt.hyperv import snapshotops
@@ -121,18 +119,3 @@ class SnapshotOpsTestCase(test_base.HyperVBaseTestCase):
 
     def test_snapshot_no_base_disk(self):
         self._test_snapshot(base_disk_path=None)
-
-    @mock.patch.object(snapshotops.SnapshotOps, '_snapshot')
-    def test_snapshot_instance_not_found(self, mock_snapshot):
-        mock_instance = fake_instance.fake_instance_obj(self.context)
-        mock_snapshot.side_effect = os_win_exc.HyperVVMNotFoundException(
-            vm_name=mock_instance.name)
-
-        self.assertRaises(exception.InstanceNotFound,
-                          self._snapshotops.snapshot,
-                          self.context, mock_instance, mock.sentinel.image_id,
-                          mock.sentinel.update_task_state)
-
-        mock_snapshot.assert_called_once_with(self.context, mock_instance,
-                                              mock.sentinel.image_id,
-                                              mock.sentinel.update_task_state)
diff --git a/nova/virt/hyperv/snapshotops.py b/nova/virt/hyperv/snapshotops.py
index 4a7629457223..27431cdedd6e 100644
--- a/nova/virt/hyperv/snapshotops.py
+++ b/nova/virt/hyperv/snapshotops.py
@@ -18,15 +18,12 @@ Management class for VM snapshot operations.
 """
 import os
 
-from os_win import exceptions as os_win_exc
 from os_win import utilsfactory
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 
 from nova.compute import task_states
-from nova import exception
 from nova.i18n import _LE
 from nova.image import glance
-from nova import utils
 from nova.virt.hyperv import pathutils
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -49,19 +46,6 @@ class SnapshotOps(object):
                                         purge_props=False)
 
     def snapshot(self, context, instance, image_id, update_task_state):
-        # While the snapshot operation is not synchronized within the manager,
-        # attempting to destroy an instance while it's being snapshoted fails.
-        @utils.synchronized(instance.uuid)
-        def instance_synchronized_snapshot():
-            self._snapshot(context, instance, image_id, update_task_state)
-
-        try:
-            instance_synchronized_snapshot()
-        except os_win_exc.HyperVVMNotFoundException:
-            # the instance might disappear before starting the operation.
-            raise exception.InstanceNotFound(instance_id=instance.uuid)
-
-    def _snapshot(self, context, instance, image_id, update_task_state):
         """Create snapshot from a running VM instance."""
         instance_name = instance.name