diff --git a/djangocms_versioning/apps.py b/djangocms_versioning/apps.py
index c1ebdcfd..a5019d4c 100644
--- a/djangocms_versioning/apps.py
+++ b/djangocms_versioning/apps.py
@@ -12,15 +12,18 @@ def ready(self):
         from cms.models import contentmodels, fields
         from cms.signals import post_obj_operation, post_placeholder_operation
 
+        from .conf import LOCK_VERSIONS
         from .handlers import (
             update_modified_date,
             update_modified_date_for_pagecontent,
             update_modified_date_for_placeholder_source,
         )
-        from .helpers import is_content_editable
+        from .helpers import is_content_editable, placeholder_content_is_unlocked_for_user
 
         # Add check to PlaceholderRelationField
         fields.PlaceholderRelationField.default_checks += [is_content_editable]
+        if LOCK_VERSIONS:
+            fields.PlaceholderRelationField.default_checks += [placeholder_content_is_unlocked_for_user]
 
         # Remove uniqueness constraint from PageContent model to allow for different versions
         pagecontent_unique_together = tuple(
diff --git a/djangocms_versioning/cms_config.py b/djangocms_versioning/cms_config.py
index 92c66fe4..e2894084 100644
--- a/djangocms_versioning/cms_config.py
+++ b/djangocms_versioning/cms_config.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 from . import indicators, versionables
 from .admin import VersioningAdminMixin
-from .conf import LOCK_VERSIONS
 from .constants import INDICATOR_DESCRIPTIONS
 from .datastructures import BaseVersionableItem, VersionableItem
 from .exceptions import ConditionFailed
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@
     get_latest_admin_viewable_content,
     inject_generic_relation_to_version,
     is_editable,
-    placeholder_content_is_unlocked_for_user,
     register_versionadmin_proxy,
     replace_admin_for_models,
     replace_manager,
@@ -160,12 +158,6 @@ def handle_admin_field_modifiers(self, cms_config):
             for key in modifier.keys():
                 self.add_to_field_extension[key] = modifier[key]
 
-    def handle_locking(self):
-        if LOCK_VERSIONS:
-            from cms.models import fields
-
-            fields.PlaceholderRelationField.default_checks += [placeholder_content_is_unlocked_for_user]
-
     def configure_app(self, cms_config):
         if hasattr(cms_config, "extended_admin_field_modifiers"):
             self.handle_admin_field_modifiers(cms_config)
@@ -188,7 +180,6 @@ def configure_app(self, cms_config):
             self.handle_version_admin(cms_config)
             self.handle_content_model_generic_relation(cms_config)
             self.handle_content_model_manager(cms_config)
-        self.handle_locking()
 
 
 def copy_page_content(original_content):