diff --git a/src/refs/CoreRefV2.sol b/src/refs/CoreRefV2.sol
index 1af26f79..30706692 100644
--- a/src/refs/CoreRefV2.sol
+++ b/src/refs/CoreRefV2.sol
@@ -33,17 +33,29 @@ abstract contract CoreRefV2 is ICoreRefV2, Pausable {
     /// 3. call core and unlock the lock back to starting level
     modifier globalLock(uint8 level) {
         IGlobalReentrancyLock lock = globalReentrancyLock();
-        lock.lock(level);
-        _;
-        lock.unlock(level - 1);
+
+        if (address(lock) != address(0)) {
+            lock.lock(level);
+            _;
+            lock.unlock(level - 1);
+        } else {
+            _; /// if lock is not set, allow function execution without global reentrancy locks
+        }
     }
 
     /// @notice modifier to restrict function acces to a certain lock level
     modifier isGlobalReentrancyLocked(uint8 level) {
         IGlobalReentrancyLock lock = globalReentrancyLock();
 
-        require(lock.lockLevel() == level, "CoreRef: System not at lock level");
-        _;
+        if (address(lock) != address(0)) {
+            require(
+                lock.lockLevel() == level,
+                "CoreRef: System not at lock level"
+            );
+            _;
+        } else {
+            _; /// if lock is not set, allow function execution without global lock level
+        }
     }
 
     /// @notice callable only by the Volt Minter
diff --git a/test/mock/MockCoreRefV2.sol b/test/mock/MockCoreRefV2.sol
index f3eae9ed..7df17335 100644
--- a/test/mock/MockCoreRefV2.sol
+++ b/test/mock/MockCoreRefV2.sol
@@ -17,6 +17,17 @@ contract MockCoreRefV2 is CoreRefV2 {
 
     function testSystemState() public onlyVoltRole(VoltRoles.LOCKER) {}
 
+    function testSystemLocksToLevel1() public globalLock(1) {}
+
+    function testSystemLocksToLevel2() public globalLock(2) {}
+
+    /// invalid lock level, doesn't matter because the lock is disabled in test
+    function testSystemLocksToLevel3() public globalLock(3) {}
+
+    function testSystemLockLevel1() public isGlobalReentrancyLocked(1) {}
+
+    function testSystemLockLevel2() public isGlobalReentrancyLocked(2) {}
+
     function testStateGovernorMinter()
         public
         hasAnyOfThreeRoles(
diff --git a/test/unit/core/GlobalReentrancyLock.t.sol b/test/unit/core/GlobalReentrancyLock.t.sol
index 06bc2699..e04de95e 100644
--- a/test/unit/core/GlobalReentrancyLock.t.sol
+++ b/test/unit/core/GlobalReentrancyLock.t.sol
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ contract UnitTestGlobalReentrancyLock is Test {
         assertTrue(core.isGovernor(address(core))); /// core contract is governor
         assertTrue(core.isGovernor(addresses.governorAddress)); /// msg.sender of contract is governor
 
-        assertTrue(lock.isUnlocked()); /// core starts out unlocked
-        assertTrue(!lock.isLocked()); /// core starts out not locked
+        assertTrue(lock.isUnlocked()); /// lock starts out unlocked
+        assertTrue(!lock.isLocked()); /// lock starts out not locked
         assertEq(lock.lastSender(), address(0));
         assertEq(lock.lastBlockEntered(), 0);
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ contract UnitTestGlobalReentrancyLock is Test {
 
             assertTrue(!lock.isLocked());
             assertEq(lock.lockLevel(), 0);
-            assertTrue(lock.isUnlocked()); /// core is fully unlocked
+            assertTrue(lock.isUnlocked()); /// lock is fully unlocked
             assertEq(toPrank, lock.lastSender());
 
             vm.roll(block.number + 1);
diff --git a/test/unit/refs/CoreRefV2.t.sol b/test/unit/refs/CoreRefV2.t.sol
index aa4f778c..ea8f3c60 100644
--- a/test/unit/refs/CoreRefV2.t.sol
+++ b/test/unit/refs/CoreRefV2.t.sol
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ import {Test} from "@forge-std/Test.sol";
 import {ICoreV2} from "@voltprotocol/core/ICoreV2.sol";
 import {VoltRoles} from "@voltprotocol/core/VoltRoles.sol";
 import {MockERC20} from "@test/mock/MockERC20.sol";
+import {getCoreV2} from "@test/unit/utils/Fixtures.sol";
 import {IPCVOracle} from "@voltprotocol/oracle/IPCVOracle.sol";
 import {MockCoreRefV2} from "@test/mock/MockCoreRefV2.sol";
 import {TestAddresses as addresses} from "@test/unit/utils/TestAddresses.sol";
-import {getCoreV2} from "@test/unit/utils/Fixtures.sol";
+import {IGlobalReentrancyLock} from "@voltprotocol/core/IGlobalReentrancyLock.sol";
 
 contract UnitTestCoreRefV2 is Test {
     ICoreV2 private core;
@@ -113,6 +114,36 @@ contract UnitTestCoreRefV2 is Test {
         coreRef.testSystemState();
     }
 
+    function _disableLock() private {
+        vm.prank(addresses.governorAddress);
+        core.setGlobalReentrancyLock(IGlobalReentrancyLock(address(0)));
+    }
+
+    function testLockLevel1LockDisabled() public {
+        _disableLock();
+        coreRef.testSystemLocksToLevel1();
+    }
+
+    function testLockLevel2LockDisabled() public {
+        _disableLock();
+        coreRef.testSystemLocksToLevel2();
+    }
+
+    function testLockLevel3LockDisabled() public {
+        _disableLock();
+        coreRef.testSystemLocksToLevel3();
+    }
+
+    function testSystemLockLevel1LockDisabled() public {
+        _disableLock();
+        coreRef.testSystemLockLevel1();
+    }
+
+    function testSystemLockLevel2LockDisabled() public {
+        _disableLock();
+        coreRef.testSystemLockLevel2();
+    }
+
     function testGuardianAsGuardian() public {
         vm.prank(addresses.guardianAddress);
         coreRef.testGuardian();