diff --git a/smmapdfw/verify_worker/verify_worker.c b/smmapdfw/verify_worker/verify_worker.c
index 18ce52b..869191c 100644
--- a/smmapdfw/verify_worker/verify_worker.c
+++ b/smmapdfw/verify_worker/verify_worker.c
@@ -445,6 +445,7 @@ int verify_work(void *handle, void *work_handle, char *input, char *output) {
 
   syslog(LOG_DEBUG, "verify (%p) verify_work: going to start worker thread, id=%d", 
 	 vwh, vwh->id);
+  pthread_mutex_lock(vwh->result_mutex);
   err = pthread_create(&tid, NULL, &worker_thread, wt);
   if (-1 == err) {
     free(wt->input);
@@ -453,7 +454,6 @@ int verify_work(void *handle, void *work_handle, char *input, char *output) {
   }
 
   syslog(LOG_DEBUG, "verify (%p) verify_work: waiting for result", vwh);
-  pthread_mutex_lock(vwh->result_mutex);
   ts.tv_sec = time(0) + vch->timeout_result;
   ts.tv_nsec = 0;
   err = pthread_cond_timedwait(vwh->result_cond, vwh->result_mutex, &ts);