diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index 7a00f7f3c..581c5ab2d 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.44 - 
 ====================================
+  Fix startup race in clvmd.
   Generate Red Hat clvmd startup script at configuration time with correct paths.
   Fix clvmd & dmeventd builds after tree restructuring.
   Cope with snapshot dependencies when removing a whole VG with lvremove.
diff --git a/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c b/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
index eb34eaf97..93a0cb7fa 100644
--- a/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
+++ b/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
@@ -423,6 +423,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	/* This needs to be started after cluster initialisation
 	   as it may need to take out locks */
 	DEBUGLOG("starting LVM thread\n");
+
+	/* Don't let anyone else to do work until we are started */
+	pthread_mutex_lock(&lvm_start_mutex);
 	pthread_create(&lvm_thread, NULL, lvm_thread_fn,
 			(void *)(long)using_gulm);
 
@@ -1758,9 +1761,6 @@ static __attribute__ ((noreturn)) void *lvm_thread_fn(void *arg)
 	sigset_t ss;
 	int using_gulm = (int)(long)arg;
 
-	/* Don't let anyone else to do work until we are started */
-	pthread_mutex_lock(&lvm_start_mutex);
-
 	DEBUGLOG("LVM thread function started\n");
 
 	/* Ignore SIGUSR1 & 2 */