diff --git a/clientv3/watch.go b/clientv3/watch.go
index 3612d35f165..7f349eb3988 100644
--- a/clientv3/watch.go
+++ b/clientv3/watch.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ type watcher struct {
 	callOpts []grpc.CallOption
 
 	// mu protects the grpc streams map
-	mu sync.RWMutex
+	mu sync.Mutex
 
 	// streams holds all the active grpc streams keyed by ctx value.
 	streams map[string]*watchGrpcStream