diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
index b39668ad..3115bc41 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import collections
+import fcntl
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -54,37 +55,48 @@ def run_configuration(config_filename, config, arguments):
     error_repository = ''
     prune_create_or_check = {'prune', 'create', 'check'}.intersection(arguments)
 
-    try:
-        if prune_create_or_check:
-            dispatch.call_hooks(
-                'ping_monitor',
-                hooks,
-                config_filename,
-                monitor.MONITOR_HOOK_NAMES,
-                monitor.State.START,
-                global_arguments.dry_run,
+    if location.get("lock_client", False):
+        lock_f = open(config_filename)
+        try:
+            fcntl.flock(lock_f.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
+        except IOError as error:
+            encountered_error = error
+            yield from make_error_log_records(
+                '{}: Failed to acquire lock'.format(config_filename), error
             )
-        if 'create' in arguments:
-            command.execute_hook(
-                hooks.get('before_backup'),
-                hooks.get('umask'),
-                config_filename,
-                'pre-backup',
-                global_arguments.dry_run,
+
+    if not encountered_error:
+        try:
+            if prune_create_or_check:
+                dispatch.call_hooks(
+                    'ping_monitor',
+                    hooks,
+                    config_filename,
+                    monitor.MONITOR_HOOK_NAMES,
+                    monitor.State.START,
+                    global_arguments.dry_run,
+                )
+            if 'create' in arguments:
+                command.execute_hook(
+                    hooks.get('before_backup'),
+                    hooks.get('umask'),
+                    config_filename,
+                    'pre-backup',
+                    global_arguments.dry_run,
+                )
+                dispatch.call_hooks(
+                    'dump_databases',
+                    hooks,
+                    config_filename,
+                    dump.DATABASE_HOOK_NAMES,
+                    location,
+                    global_arguments.dry_run,
+                )
+        except (OSError, CalledProcessError) as error:
+            encountered_error = error
+            yield from make_error_log_records(
+                '{}: Error running pre-backup hook'.format(config_filename), error
             )
-            dispatch.call_hooks(
-                'dump_databases',
-                hooks,
-                config_filename,
-                dump.DATABASE_HOOK_NAMES,
-                location,
-                global_arguments.dry_run,
-            )
-    except (OSError, CalledProcessError) as error:
-        encountered_error = error
-        yield from make_error_log_records(
-            '{}: Error running pre-backup hook'.format(config_filename), error
-        )
 
     if not encountered_error:
         for repository_path in location['repositories']:
diff --git a/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml b/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
index c58ebdec..d541065c 100644
--- a/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
+++ b/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ map:
                 type: bool
                 desc: Stay in same file system (do not cross mount points). Defaults to false.
                 example: true
+            lock_client:
+                type: bool
+                desc: Lock config when running borgmatic to prevent multiple instances from running simultaneously. Defaults to false.
+                example: true
             numeric_owner:
                 type: bool
                 desc: Only store/extract numeric user and group identifiers. Defaults to false.