diff --git a/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py b/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
index 2dd6ac51..f45a9098 100644
--- a/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
+++ b/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import logging
 import math
 import urllib
 
-from eventlet import tpool
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_utils import encodeutils
 from oslo_utils import units
@@ -291,9 +290,6 @@ class Store(driver.Store):
     def get_schemes(self):
         return ('rbd',)
 
-    def RBDProxy(self):
-        return tpool.Proxy(rbd.RBD())
-
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def get_connection(self, conffile, rados_id):
         client = rados.Rados(conffile=conffile, rados_id=rados_id)
@@ -435,12 +431,12 @@ class Store(driver.Store):
 
         :returns: `glance_store.rbd.StoreLocation` object
         """
+        librbd = rbd.RBD()
         features = conn.conf_get('rbd_default_features')
         if ((features is None) or (int(features) == 0)):
             features = rbd.RBD_FEATURE_LAYERING
-        self.RBDProxy().create(ioctx, image_name, size, order,
-                               old_format=False,
-                               features=int(features))
+        librbd.create(ioctx, image_name, size, order, old_format=False,
+                      features=int(features))
         return StoreLocation({
             'fsid': fsid,
             'pool': self.pool,
@@ -500,7 +496,7 @@ class Store(driver.Store):
                                 raise exceptions.InUseByStore()
 
                     # Then delete image.
-                    self.RBDProxy().remove(ioctx, image_name)
+                    rbd.RBD().remove(ioctx, image_name)
                 except rbd.ImageHasSnapshots:
                     log_msg = (_LW("Remove image %(img_name)s failed. "
                                    "It has snapshot(s) left.") %
diff --git a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
index 09eddc46..08ade51d 100644
--- a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
+++ b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
@@ -692,53 +692,3 @@ class TestStore(base.StoreBaseTest,
         self.assertEqual(self.called_commands_expected,
                          self.called_commands_actual)
         super(TestStore, self).tearDown()
-
-    def test_create_image_in_native_thread(self):
-        # Tests that we use non-0 features from ceph.conf and cast to int.
-        fsid = 'fake'
-        features = '3'
-        conf_get_mock = mock.Mock(return_value=features)
-        conn = mock.Mock(conf_get=conf_get_mock)
-        ioctxt = mock.sentinel.ioctxt
-        name = '1'
-        size = 1024
-        order = 3
-        fake_proxy = mock.MagicMock()
-        fake_rbd = mock.MagicMock()
-
-        with mock.patch.object(rbd_store.tpool, 'Proxy') as tpool_mock, \
-                mock.patch.object(rbd_store.rbd, 'RBD') as rbd_mock:
-            tpool_mock.return_value = fake_proxy
-            rbd_mock.return_value = fake_rbd
-            location = self.store._create_image(
-                fsid, conn, ioctxt, name, size, order)
-            self.assertEqual(fsid, location.specs['fsid'])
-            self.assertEqual(rbd_store.DEFAULT_POOL, location.specs['pool'])
-            self.assertEqual(name, location.specs['image'])
-            self.assertEqual(rbd_store.DEFAULT_SNAPNAME,
-                             location.specs['snapshot'])
-
-        tpool_mock.assert_called_once_with(fake_rbd)
-        fake_proxy.create.assert_called_once_with(ioctxt, name, size, order,
-                                                  old_format=False, features=3)
-
-    def test_delete_image_in_native_thread(self):
-        fake_proxy = mock.MagicMock()
-        fake_rbd = mock.MagicMock()
-        fake_ioctx = mock.MagicMock()
-
-        with mock.patch.object(rbd_store.tpool, 'Proxy') as tpool_mock, \
-                mock.patch.object(rbd_store.rbd, 'RBD') as rbd_mock, \
-                mock.patch.object(self.store, 'get_connection') as mock_conn:
-
-            mock_get_conn = mock_conn.return_value.__enter__.return_value
-            mock_ioctx = mock_get_conn.open_ioctx.return_value.__enter__
-            mock_ioctx.return_value = fake_ioctx
-            tpool_mock.return_value = fake_proxy
-            rbd_mock.return_value = fake_rbd
-
-            self.store._delete_image('fake_pool', self.location.image)
-
-            tpool_mock.assert_called_once_with(fake_rbd)
-            fake_proxy.remove.assert_called_once_with(fake_ioctx,
-                                                      self.location.image)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-rbd-lockup-3aa2bb86f7d29e19.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-rbd-lockup-3aa2bb86f7d29e19.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f66f73d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-rbd-lockup-3aa2bb86f7d29e19.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    A recent change to the RBD driver introduced a potential threading lockup
+    when using native threads, and also a (process-)blocking call to an
+    external library when using greenthreads. That change has been reverted
+    until a better fix can be made.