diff --git a/src/util/threads-pthread.c b/src/util/threads-pthread.c
index 2f0746bb26..030b33fcaf 100644
--- a/src/util/threads-pthread.c
+++ b/src/util/threads-pthread.c
@@ -46,6 +46,19 @@ int virMutexInit(virMutexPtr m)
     return 0;
 }
 
+int virMutexInitRecursive(virMutexPtr m)
+{
+    int ret;
+    pthread_mutexattr_t attr;
+    pthread_mutexattr_init(&attr);
+    pthread_mutexattr_settype(&attr, PTHREAD_MUTEX_RECURSIVE);
+    if ((ret = pthread_mutex_init(&m->lock, &attr)) != 0) {
+        errno = ret;
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
 void virMutexDestroy(virMutexPtr m)
 {
     pthread_mutex_destroy(&m->lock);
diff --git a/src/util/threads-win32.c b/src/util/threads-win32.c
index ef3f2ef2c0..b1d15712cb 100644
--- a/src/util/threads-win32.c
+++ b/src/util/threads-win32.c
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ void virThreadOnExit(void)
 
 
 int virMutexInit(virMutexPtr m)
+{
+    virMutexInitRecursive(m);
+}
+
+int virMutexInitRecursive(virMutexPtr m)
 {
     if (!(m->lock = CreateMutex(NULL, FALSE, NULL))) {
         errno = ESRCH;
diff --git a/src/util/threads.h b/src/util/threads.h
index 36fc6002be..6e010829ff 100644
--- a/src/util/threads.h
+++ b/src/util/threads.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ int virThreadInitialize(void) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
 void virThreadOnExit(void);
 
 int virMutexInit(virMutexPtr m) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+int virMutexInitRecursive(virMutexPtr m) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
 void virMutexDestroy(virMutexPtr m);
 
 void virMutexLock(virMutexPtr m);