diff --git a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
index ef9e15be09ece319..95f652e5953b2016 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
@@ -489,6 +489,11 @@ int Camera::acquire()
 	if (!stateIs(CameraAvailable))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
+	if (!pipe_->lock()) {
+		LOG(Camera, Info) << "Pipeline handler in use by other process";
+		return -EBUSY;
+	}
+
 	state_ = CameraAcquired;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -510,6 +515,8 @@ int Camera::release()
 	if (!stateBetween(CameraAvailable, CameraConfigured))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
+	pipe_->unlock();
+
 	state_ = CameraAvailable;
 
 	return 0;