diff --git a/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_device.h b/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_device.h
index dbbd118ab..f34f5f2f1 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_device.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_device.h
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ public:
 
 	void updateControlInfo();
 
+	bool lock();
+	void unlock();
+
 protected:
 	V4L2Device(const std::string &deviceNode);
 	~V4L2Device();
diff --git a/src/libcamera/v4l2_device.cpp b/src/libcamera/v4l2_device.cpp
index b49d73b1c..e8764b37e 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/v4l2_device.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/v4l2_device.cpp
@@ -147,6 +147,43 @@ void V4L2Device::close()
 	fd_.reset();
 }
 
+/**
+ * \brief Lock the device to prevent it from being used by other instances of
+ * libcamera
+ *
+ * Multiple instances of libcamera might be running on the same system, at the
+ * same time. To allow the different instances to coexist, system resources like
+ * v4l2 devices must be accessible for enumerating the cameras they provide at
+ * all times, while still allowing an instance to lock a resource while it
+ * prepares to actively use a camera from the resource.
+ *
+ * \return True if the device could be locked, false otherwise
+ * \sa unlock()
+ */
+bool V4L2Device::lock()
+{
+	if (!fd_.isValid())
+		return false;
+
+	if (lockf(fd_.get(), F_TLOCK, 0))
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * \brief Unlock the device and free it for use for libcamera instances
+ *
+ * \sa lock()
+ */
+void V4L2Device::unlock()
+{
+	if (!fd_.isValid())
+		return;
+
+	std::ignore = lockf(fd_.get(), F_ULOCK, 0);
+}
+
 /**
  * \fn V4L2Device::isOpen()
  * \brief Check if the V4L2 device node is open