diff --git a/block/iscsi.c b/block/iscsi.c
index a4e3730a82..1924a2b58e 100644
--- a/block/iscsi.c
+++ b/block/iscsi.c
@@ -344,6 +344,8 @@ static void iscsi_timed_check_events(void *opaque)
 {
     IscsiLun *iscsilun = opaque;
 
+    qemu_mutex_lock(&iscsilun->mutex);
+
     /* check for timed out requests */
     iscsi_service(iscsilun->iscsi, 0);
 
@@ -356,6 +358,8 @@ static void iscsi_timed_check_events(void *opaque)
      * to return to service once this situation changes. */
     iscsi_set_events(iscsilun);
 
+    qemu_mutex_unlock(&iscsilun->mutex);
+
     timer_mod(iscsilun->event_timer,
               qemu_clock_get_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME) + EVENT_INTERVAL);
 }