diff --git a/src/locker.js b/src/locker.js
index e3b219b01..ac679714f 100644
--- a/src/locker.js
+++ b/src/locker.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ util.inherits(Locker, EventEmitter);
 
 // these are mutually exclusive operations
 Locker.prototype.OP_BOX_UPDATE = 'box_update';
+Locker.prototype.OP_PLATFORM_START = 'platform_start';
 Locker.prototype.OP_FULL_BACKUP = 'full_backup';
 Locker.prototype.OP_APPTASK = 'apptask';
 Locker.prototype.OP_MIGRATE = 'migrate';
diff --git a/src/platform.js b/src/platform.js
index 34deb89e6..4ba17ed1d 100644
--- a/src/platform.js
+++ b/src/platform.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ var apps = require('./apps.js'),
     fs = require('fs'),
     hat = require('hat'),
     infra = require('./infra_version.js'),
+    locker = require('./locker.js'),
     nginx = require('./nginx.js'),
     os = require('os'),
     paths = require('./paths.js'),
@@ -63,6 +64,9 @@ function start(callback) {
 
     debug('Updating infrastructure from %s to %s', existingInfra.version, infra.version);
 
+    var error = locker.lock(locker.OP_PLATFORM_START);
+    if (error) return callback(error);
+
     async.series([
         stopContainers.bind(null, existingInfra),
         startAddons.bind(null, existingInfra),
@@ -72,6 +76,8 @@ function start(callback) {
     ], function (error) {
         if (error) return callback(error);
 
+        locker.unlock(locker.OP_PLATFORM_START);
+
         emitPlatformReady();
 
         callback();