diff --git a/lib/lockref.c b/lib/lockref.c
index 7819c2d1d315..9d76f404ce9a 100644
--- a/lib/lockref.c
+++ b/lib/lockref.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 		if (likely(old.lock_count == prev.lock_count)) {		\
 			SUCCESS;						\
 		}								\
+		cpu_relax();							\
 	}									\
 } while (0)