diff --git a/nodepool/zk/zookeeper.py b/nodepool/zk/zookeeper.py
index 8398d08e..ecf7777a 100644
--- a/nodepool/zk/zookeeper.py
+++ b/nodepool/zk/zookeeper.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import abc
 import json
 import logging
+import threading
 import time
 import uuid
 
@@ -394,6 +395,9 @@ class NodeRequest(BaseModel):
     def __init__(self, id=None):
         super(NodeRequest, self).__init__(id)
         self.lock = None
+        # Local thread lock that is acquired when we are manipulating
+        # the ZK lock.
+        self._thread_lock = threading.Lock()
         self.declined_by = []
         self.node_types = []
         self.nodes = []
@@ -510,6 +514,9 @@ def __init__(self, id=None):
         super(Node, self).__init__(id)
         # Local lock object; not serialized
         self.lock = None
+        # Local thread lock that is acquired when we are manipulating
+        # the ZK lock.
+        self._thread_lock = threading.Lock()
         # Cached list of lock contenders; not serialized (and possibly
         # not up to date; use for status listings only).
         self.lock_contenders = set()
@@ -2138,22 +2145,23 @@ def lockNodeRequest(self, request, blocking=True, timeout=None):
         log = get_annotated_logger(self.log, event_id=request.event_id,
                                    node_request_id=request.id)
         path = self._requestLockPath(request.id)
-        try:
-            lock = Lock(self.kazoo_client, path)
-            have_lock = lock.acquire(blocking, timeout)
-        except kze.LockTimeout:
-            raise npe.TimeoutException(
-                "Timeout trying to acquire lock %s" % path)
-        except kze.NoNodeError:
-            have_lock = False
-            log.error("Request not found for locking: %s", request)
+        with request._thread_lock:
+            try:
+                lock = Lock(self.kazoo_client, path)
+                have_lock = lock.acquire(blocking, timeout)
+            except kze.LockTimeout:
+                raise npe.TimeoutException(
+                    "Timeout trying to acquire lock %s" % path)
+            except kze.NoNodeError:
+                have_lock = False
+                log.error("Request not found for locking: %s", request)
 
-        # If we aren't blocking, it's possible we didn't get the lock
-        # because someone else has it.
-        if not have_lock:
-            raise npe.ZKLockException("Did not get lock on %s" % path)
+            # If we aren't blocking, it's possible we didn't get the lock
+            # because someone else has it.
+            if not have_lock:
+                raise npe.ZKLockException("Did not get lock on %s" % path)
 
-        request.lock = lock
+            request.lock = lock
 
         # Do an in-place update of the node request so we have the latest data
         self.updateNodeRequest(request)
@@ -2171,8 +2179,9 @@ def unlockNodeRequest(self, request):
         if request.lock is None:
             raise npe.ZKLockException(
                 "Request %s does not hold a lock" % request)
-        request.lock.release()
-        request.lock = None
+        with request._thread_lock:
+            request.lock.release()
+            request.lock = None
 
     def lockNode(self, node, blocking=True, timeout=None,
                  ephemeral=True, identifier=None):
@@ -2199,22 +2208,23 @@ def lockNode(self, node, blocking=True, timeout=None,
             and could not get the lock, or a lock is already held.
         '''
         path = self._nodeLockPath(node.id)
-        try:
-            lock = Lock(self.kazoo_client, path, identifier)
-            have_lock = lock.acquire(blocking, timeout, ephemeral)
-        except kze.LockTimeout:
-            raise npe.TimeoutException(
-                "Timeout trying to acquire lock %s" % path)
-        except kze.NoNodeError:
-            have_lock = False
-            self.log.error("Node not found for locking: %s", node)
+        with node._thread_lock:
+            try:
+                lock = Lock(self.kazoo_client, path, identifier)
+                have_lock = lock.acquire(blocking, timeout, ephemeral)
+            except kze.LockTimeout:
+                raise npe.TimeoutException(
+                    "Timeout trying to acquire lock %s" % path)
+            except kze.NoNodeError:
+                have_lock = False
+                self.log.error("Node not found for locking: %s", node)
 
-        # If we aren't blocking, it's possible we didn't get the lock
-        # because someone else has it.
-        if not have_lock:
-            raise npe.ZKLockException("Did not get lock on %s" % path)
+            # If we aren't blocking, it's possible we didn't get the lock
+            # because someone else has it.
+            if not have_lock:
+                raise npe.ZKLockException("Did not get lock on %s" % path)
 
-        node.lock = lock
+            node.lock = lock
 
         # Do an in-place update of the node so we have the latest data.
         self.updateNode(node)
@@ -2231,8 +2241,9 @@ def unlockNode(self, node):
         '''
         if node.lock is None:
             raise npe.ZKLockException("Node %s does not hold a lock" % node)
-        node.lock.release()
-        node.lock = None
+        with node._thread_lock:
+            node.lock.release()
+            node.lock = None
 
     def forceUnlockNode(self, node):
         '''