diff --git a/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c b/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
index 5e4195f294..cf84db2b73 100644
--- a/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
+++ b/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
@@ -133,9 +133,11 @@ int rtems_aio_init( void )
   if ( result != 0 )
     pthread_attr_destroy( &aio_request_queue.attr );
 
+  pthread_mutex_lock( &aio_request_queue.mutex );
 
   result = pthread_cond_init( &aio_request_queue.new_req, NULL );
   if ( result != 0 ) {
+    pthread_mutex_unlock( &aio_request_queue.mutex );
     pthread_mutex_destroy( &aio_request_queue.mutex );
     pthread_attr_destroy( &aio_request_queue.attr );
   }
@@ -148,6 +150,8 @@ int rtems_aio_init( void )
   atomic_init( &aio_request_queue.queued_requests, 0 );
   aio_request_queue.initialized = AIO_QUEUE_INITIALIZED;
 
+  pthread_mutex_unlock( &aio_request_queue.mutex );
+
   return result;
 }