diff --git a/kmod/src/lock_server.c b/kmod/src/lock_server.c
index f4bf64a0..03460ef3 100644
--- a/kmod/src/lock_server.c
+++ b/kmod/src/lock_server.c
@@ -773,6 +773,10 @@ static void scoutfs_lock_server_recovery_timeout(struct work_struct *work)
 	u64 rid;
 	int ret;
 
+	ret = scoutfs_server_hold_commit(sb);
+	if (ret)
+		goto out;
+
 	/* we enter recovery if there are any client records */
 	for (rid = 0; ; rid++) {
 		cbk.rid = cpu_to_be64(rid);
@@ -802,7 +806,6 @@ static void scoutfs_lock_server_recovery_timeout(struct work_struct *work)
 		scoutfs_err(sb, "client rid %016llx lock recovery timed out",
 			    rid);
 
-		/* XXX these aren't immediately committed */
 		cbk.rid = cpu_to_be64(rid);
 		ret = scoutfs_btree_delete(sb, inf->alloc, inf->wri,
 					   &super->lock_clients,
@@ -811,6 +814,8 @@ static void scoutfs_lock_server_recovery_timeout(struct work_struct *work)
 			break;
 	}
 
+	ret = scoutfs_server_apply_commit(sb, ret);
+out:
 	/* force processing all pending lock requests */
 	if (ret == 0)
 		ret = finished_recovery(sb, 0, false);