diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/events/event_broadcaster.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/events/event_broadcaster.go
index 9d373dd84c4..7ef06a088c8 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/events/event_broadcaster.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/events/event_broadcaster.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ type eventKey struct {
 
 type eventBroadcasterImpl struct {
 	*watch.Broadcaster
-	mu            sync.RWMutex
+	mu            sync.Mutex
 	eventCache    map[eventKey]*v1beta1.Event
 	sleepDuration time.Duration
 	sink          EventSink