diff -r c75a73209f1e -r 36b27bd12aef hgext/obsolete.py
--- a/hgext/obsolete.py	Sat Jan 07 11:33:20 2012 +0100
+++ b/hgext/obsolete.py	Sat Jan 07 11:40:45 2012 +0100
@@ -496,9 +496,9 @@
 
 
     repo.__class__ = obsoletingrepo
-    obsoletes = [c.node() for c in repo.set('obsolete() - public()')]
-    lock = repo.lock()
     if repo.ui.configbool('obsolete', 'secret-unstable', True):
+        obsoletes = [c.node() for c in repo.set('obsolete()')]
+        lock = repo.lock()
         try:
             phases.retractboundary(repo, 2, obsoletes)
         finally: