diff --git a/lib/hdb/db.c b/lib/hdb/db.c
index 40479cdaf..4b80a74fb 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/db.c
+++ b/lib/hdb/db.c
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ DB_lock(krb5_context context, HDB *db, int operation)
     krb5_error_code ret;
 
     if (db->lock_count > 0) {
-	assert( db->lock_type == HDB_WLOCK );
 	db->lock_count++;
-	return 0;
+	if (db->lock_type == HDB_WLOCK || db->lock_type == operation)
+	    return 0;
     }
 
     if(fd < 0) {
diff --git a/lib/hdb/db3.c b/lib/hdb/db3.c
index be2f80c09..20ac64c89 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/db3.c
+++ b/lib/hdb/db3.c
@@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ DB_lock(krb5_context context, HDB *db, int operation)
     int fd;
     krb5_error_code ret;
 
-    if (db->lock_count > 0) {
-	assert( db->lock_type == HDB_WLOCK );
+    if (db->lock_count > 1) {
 	db->lock_count++;
-	return 0;
+	if (db->lock_count == HDB_WLOCK || db->lock_count == operation)
+	    return 0;
     }
 
     if ((*d->fd)(d, &fd))
diff --git a/lib/hdb/hdb-mitdb.c b/lib/hdb/hdb-mitdb.c
index 12fbda640..90c6aec99 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/hdb-mitdb.c
+++ b/lib/hdb/hdb-mitdb.c
@@ -650,10 +650,10 @@ mdb_lock(krb5_context context, HDB *db, int operation)
     int fd = (*d->fd)(d);
     krb5_error_code ret;
 
-    if (db->lock_count > 0) {
-	assert( db->lock_type == HDB_WLOCK );
+    if (db->lock_count > 1) {
 	db->lock_count++;
-	return 0;
+	if (db->lock_type == HDB_WLOCK || db->lock_count == operation)
+	    return 0;
     }
 
     if(fd < 0) {