diff --git a/src/ring.c b/src/ring.c
index fb19efc46..d798f27db 100644
--- a/src/ring.c
+++ b/src/ring.c
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ ssize_t ring_write(struct ring *ring, size_t maxlen, const struct ist pfx[], siz
 	size_t needed;
 	uint64_t dellen;
 	int dellenlen;
+	uint8_t *lock_ptr;
+	uint8_t readers;
 	ssize_t sent = 0;
 	int i;
 
@@ -227,6 +229,13 @@ ssize_t ring_write(struct ring *ring, size_t maxlen, const struct ist pfx[], siz
 	head_ofs = ring_head(ring);
 	tail_ofs = ring_tail(ring);
 
+	/* this is the byte before tail, it contains the users count */
+	lock_ptr = (uint8_t*)ring_area + (tail_ofs > 0 ? tail_ofs - 1 : ring_size - 1);
+
+	/* take the lock on the area. Normally we're alone */
+	readers = HA_ATOMIC_XCHG(lock_ptr, RING_WRITING_SIZE);
+	BUG_ON_HOT(readers == RING_WRITING_SIZE);
+
 	vp_ring_to_data(&v1, &v2, ring_area, ring_size, head_ofs, tail_ofs);
 
 	while (vp_size(v1, v2) > ring_size - needed - 1 - 1) {
@@ -249,8 +258,12 @@ ssize_t ring_write(struct ring *ring, size_t maxlen, const struct ist pfx[], siz
 	/* now let's update the buffer with the new head and size */
 	vp_data_to_ring(v1, v2, ring_area, ring_size, &head_ofs, &tail_ofs);
 
-	if (vp_size(v1, v2) > ring_size - needed - 1 - 1)
+	if (vp_size(v1, v2) > ring_size - needed - 1 - 1) {
+		/* we had to stop due to readers blocking the head,
+		 * let's give up.
+		 */
 		goto done_update_buf;
+	}
 
 	/* now focus on free room */
 	vp_ring_to_room(&v1, &v2, ring_area, ring_size, head_ofs, tail_ofs);
@@ -287,6 +300,9 @@ ssize_t ring_write(struct ring *ring, size_t maxlen, const struct ist pfx[], siz
 	vp_room_to_ring(v1, v2, ring_area, ring_size, &head_ofs, &tail_ofs);
 
  done_update_buf:
+	/* unlock the message area */
+	HA_ATOMIC_STORE(lock_ptr, readers);
+
 	/* update the new space in the buffer */
 	ring->storage->head = head_ofs;
 	ring->storage->tail = tail_ofs;