diff --git a/includes/admin.form.inc b/includes/admin.form.inc
index 9f64cb6d..18b9bb4e 100644
--- a/includes/admin.form.inc
+++ b/includes/admin.form.inc
@@ -61,6 +61,23 @@ function islandora_repository_admin(array $form, array &$form_state) {
           '#description' => t('HTTP caching can reduce network traffic, by allowing clients to used cached copies.'),
           '#default_value' => variable_get('islandora_use_datastream_cache_headers', TRUE),
         ),
+        'islandora_use_object_semaphores' => array(
+          '#type' => 'checkbox',
+          '#title' => t('Make Processes Claim Objects for Modification'),
+          '#description' => t('Enabling this will increase stability of Fedora at high concurrency but will incur a heavy performance hit.'),
+          '#default_value' => variable_get('islandora_use_object_semaphores', FALSE),
+        ),
+        'islandora_semaphore_period' => array(
+          '#type' => 'textfield',
+          '#title' => t('Time to Claim Objects for'),
+          '#default_value' => variable_get('islandora_semaphore_period', 600),
+          '#description' => t('Maximum time in seconds to claim objects for modification.'),
+          '#states' => array(
+            'invisible' => array(
+              ':input[name="islandora_use_object_semaphores"]' => array('checked' => FALSE),
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
         'islandora_defer_derivatives_on_ingest' => array(
           '#type' => 'checkbox',
           '#title' => t('Defer derivative generation during ingest'),
@@ -123,6 +140,21 @@ function islandora_repository_admin(array $form, array &$form_state) {
   return system_settings_form($form);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Validate the admin form.
+ */
+function islandora_repository_admin_validate($form, &$form_state) {
+  // Only validate semaphore period if semaphores are enabled.
+  if ($form_state['values']['islandora_use_object_semaphores']) {
+    if ($form_state['values']['islandora_semaphore_period']) {
+      element_validate_integer_positive($form['islandora_tabs']['islandora_general']['islandora_semaphore_period'], $form_state);
+    }
+    else {
+      form_set_error('islandora_semaphore_period', t('<em>Time to Claim Objects for</em> must not be empty if <em>Make Processes Claim Objects for Modification</em> is checked.'));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Gets a message which describes if the repository is accessible.
  *
diff --git a/includes/tuque_wrapper.inc b/includes/tuque_wrapper.inc
index e7ee75c2..f075c402 100644
--- a/includes/tuque_wrapper.inc
+++ b/includes/tuque_wrapper.inc
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ class IslandoraFedoraApiM extends FedoraApiM {
     if ($context['block']) {
       throw new Exception('Modify Datastream was blocked.');
     }
-    return parent::modifyDatastream($pid, $dsid, $params);
+    return $this->callParentWithLocking('modifyDatastream', $pid, $pid, $dsid, $params);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ class IslandoraFedoraApiM extends FedoraApiM {
     if ($context['block']) {
       throw new Exception('Modify Object was blocked.');
     }
-    return parent::modifyObject($pid, $params);
+    return $this->callParentWithLocking('modifyObject', $pid, $pid, $params);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ class IslandoraFedoraApiM extends FedoraApiM {
           return '';
 
         default:
-          $ret = parent::purgeObject($pid, $log_message);
+          $ret = $this->callParentWithLocking('purgeObject', $pid, $pid, $log_message);
           islandora_invoke_object_hooks(ISLANDORA_OBJECT_PURGED_HOOK, $models, $pid);
           return $ret;
       }
@@ -436,6 +436,87 @@ class IslandoraFedoraApiM extends FedoraApiM {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Wraps purgeDatastream for semaphore locking.
+   *
+   * @see FedoraApiM::purgeDatastream
+   */
+  public function purgeDatastream($pid, $dsid, $params = array()) {
+    return $this->callParentWithLocking('purgeDatastream', $pid, $pid, $dsid, $params);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Wraps ingest for semaphore locking.
+   *
+   * @see FedoraApiM::ingest
+   */
+  public function ingest($params = array()) {
+    if (isset($params['pid'])) {
+      return $this->callParentWithLocking('ingest', $params['pid'], $params);
+    }
+    else {
+      return parent::ingest($params);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Wraps addDatastream for semaphore locking.
+   *
+   * @see FedoraApiM::addDatastream
+   */
+  public function addDatastream($pid, $dsid, $type, $file, $params) {
+    return $this->callParentWithLocking('addDatastream', $pid, $pid, $dsid, $type, $file, $params);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Wraps addRelationship for semaphore locking.
+   *
+   * @see FedoraApiM::addRelationship
+   */
+  public function addRelationship($pid, $relationship, $is_literal, $datatype = NULL) {
+    return $this->callParentWithLocking('addRelationship', $pid, $pid, $relationship, $is_literal, $datatype);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Call a parent function while using semaphores as configured.
+   *
+   * All extra arguments are passed along to the callback.
+   *
+   * @param callable $callback
+   *   The method we are wrapping.
+   * @param string $pid
+   *   The PID to create a semaphore for.
+   */
+  protected function callParentWithLocking($callback, $pid) {
+    $args = array_slice(func_get_args(), 2);
+    $locked = FALSE;
+
+    if (variable_get('islandora_use_object_semaphores', FALSE)) {
+      $lock_period = variable_get('islandora_semaphore_period', 600);
+      while (!lock_acquire($pid, $lock_period)) {
+        // Wait for the lock to be free. In the worst case forever.
+        while (lock_wait($pid)) {
+        }
+      }
+      $locked = TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if ($locked) {
+      try {
+        $to_return = call_user_func_array(array($this, "parent::$callback"), $args);
+      }
+      catch (Exception $e) {
+        // Release the lock in event of exception.
+        lock_release($pid);
+        throw $e;
+      }
+      lock_release($pid);
+      return $to_return;
+    }
+    else {
+      return call_user_func_array(array($this, "parent::$callback"), $args);
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 class IslandoraSimpleCache extends SimpleCache {}
diff --git a/islandora.install b/islandora.install
index 075e81a2..e1dc340d 100644
--- a/islandora.install
+++ b/islandora.install
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ function islandora_uninstall() {
     'islandora_namespace_restriction_enforced',
     'islandora_pids_allowed',
     'islandora_risearch_use_itql_when_necessary',
+    'islandora_use_object_semaphores',
+    'islandora_semaphore_period',
   );
   array_walk($variables, 'variable_del');
 }