diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index d40c90b..f42de7e 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -168,17 +168,20 @@ all: ${LIBS} ${BINS}
 
 libfaketimeMT.o: EXTRA_FLAGS := -DPTHREAD_SINGLETHREADED_TIME
 
-${LIBS_OBJ}: libfaketime.c
+ft_sem.o: ft_sem.c ft_sem.h
+	${CC} -o $@ -c ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} $<
+
+${LIBS_OBJ}: libfaketime.c ft_sem.h
 	${CC} -o $@ -c ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${EXTRA_FLAGS} $<
 
-%.so.${SONAME}: %.o libfaketime.map
-	${CC} -o $@ -Wl,-soname,$@ ${LDFLAGS} ${LIB_LDFLAGS} $< ${LDADD}
+%.so.${SONAME}: %.o ft_sem.o libfaketime.map
+	${CC} -o $@ -Wl,-soname,$@ ${LDFLAGS} ${LIB_LDFLAGS} $< ft_sem.o ${LDADD}
 
-${BINS}: faketime.c
-	${CC} -o $@ ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${EXTRA_FLAGS} $< ${LDFLAGS} ${BIN_LDFLAGS}
+${BINS}: faketime.c ft_sem.o ft_sem.h
+	${CC} -o $@ ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${EXTRA_FLAGS} $< ft_sem.o ${LDFLAGS} ${BIN_LDFLAGS}
 
 clean:
-	@rm -f ${LIBS_OBJ} ${LIBS} ${BINS}
+	@rm -f ${LIBS_OBJ} ${LIBS} ${BINS} ft_sem.o
 
 distclean: clean
 	@echo
diff --git a/src/faketime.c b/src/faketime.c
index 71a6969..3cf4e0f 100644
--- a/src/faketime.c
+++ b/src/faketime.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
-#include <semaphore.h>
+#include "ft_sem.h"
 
 #include "faketime_common.h"
 
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ static const char *date_cmd = "date";
 
 /* semaphore and shared memory names */
 char sem_name[PATH_BUFSIZE] = {0}, shm_name[PATH_BUFSIZE] = {0};
+static ft_sem_t wrapper_sem;
 
 void usage(const char *name)
 {
@@ -98,9 +99,9 @@ void usage(const char *name)
 /** Clean up shared objects */
 static void cleanup_shobjs()
 {
-  if (-1 == sem_unlink(sem_name))
+  if (-1 == ft_sem_unlink(&wrapper_sem))
   {
-    perror("faketime: sem_unlink");
+    perror("faketime: ft_sem_unlink");
   }
   if (-1 == shm_unlink(shm_name))
   {
@@ -255,9 +256,8 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
   curr_opt++;
 
   {
-    /* create semaphores and shared memory */
+    /* create lock and shared memory */
     int shm_fd;
-    sem_t *sem;
     struct ft_shared_s *ft_shared;
     char shared_objs[PATH_BUFSIZE * 2 + 1];
 
@@ -271,10 +271,10 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
     snprintf(sem_name, PATH_BUFSIZE -1 ,"/faketime_sem_%ld", (long)getpid());
     snprintf(shm_name, PATH_BUFSIZE -1 ,"/faketime_shm_%ld", (long)getpid());
 
-    if (SEM_FAILED == (sem = sem_open(sem_name, O_CREAT|O_EXCL, S_IWUSR|S_IRUSR, 1)))
+    if (-1 == ft_sem_create(sem_name, &wrapper_sem))
     {
-      perror("faketime: sem_open");
-      fprintf(stderr, "The faketime wrapper only works on platforms that support the sem_open()\nsystem call. However, you may LD_PRELOAD libfaketime without using this wrapper.\n");
+      perror("faketime: ft_sem_create");
+      fprintf(stderr, "The faketime wrapper failed to create its lock.\nHowever, you may LD_PRELOAD libfaketime without using this wrapper.\n");
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
@@ -282,10 +282,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
     if (-1 == (shm_fd = shm_open(shm_name, O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR, S_IWUSR|S_IRUSR)))
     {
       perror("faketime: shm_open");
-      if (-1 == sem_unlink(argv[2]))
-      {
-        perror("faketime: sem_unlink");
-      }
+      ft_sem_unlink(&wrapper_sem);
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
@@ -306,9 +303,9 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
-    if (sem_wait(sem) == -1)
+    if (ft_sem_lock(&wrapper_sem) == -1)
     {
-      perror("faketime: sem_wait");
+      perror("faketime: ft_sem_lock");
       cleanup_shobjs();
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
@@ -334,16 +331,16 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
-    if (sem_post(sem) == -1)
+    if (ft_sem_unlock(&wrapper_sem) == -1)
     {
-      perror("faketime: semop");
+      perror("faketime: ft_sem_unlock");
       cleanup_shobjs();
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     snprintf(shared_objs, sizeof(shared_objs), "%s %s", sem_name, shm_name);
     setenv("FAKETIME_SHARED", shared_objs, true);
-    sem_close(sem);
+    ft_sem_close(&wrapper_sem);
   }
 
   {
diff --git a/src/ft_sem.c b/src/ft_sem.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f565ae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ft_sem.c
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+/*
+ *  This file is part of libfaketime, version 0.9.12
+ *
+ *  libfaketime is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ *  under the terms of the GNU General Public License v2 as published by the
+ *  Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ *  libfaketime is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ *  ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ *  FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for
+ *  more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License v2 along
+ *  with the libfaketime; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ *  Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+ */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+#include "ft_sem.h"
+
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+#include <sys/sem.h>
+#endif
+
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+#include <sys/file.h>
+#endif
+
+/*
+ *      =======================================================================
+ *      Semaphore related functions                                     === SEM
+ *      =======================================================================
+ */
+
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+int ft_sem_name2key(char *name)
+{
+  key_t key;
+  char fullname[256];
+  snprintf(fullname, sizeof(fullname), "/tmp%s", name);
+  fullname[sizeof(fullname) - 1] = '\0';
+  int fd = open(fullname, O_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR);
+  if (fd < 0)
+  {
+    perror("libfaketime: open");
+    return -1;
+  }
+  close(fd);
+  if (-1 == (key = ftok(fullname, 'F')))
+  {
+    perror("libfaketime: ftok");
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return key;
+}
+#endif
+
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+static int ft_sem_name_to_path(const char *name, char *path, size_t pathlen)
+{
+  const char *prefix = "/faketime_sem_";
+  const char *p = strstr(name, prefix);
+  if (p == NULL)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  const char *pid_str = p + strlen(prefix);
+  snprintf(path, pathlen, "/dev/shm/faketime_lock_%s", pid_str);
+  path[pathlen - 1] = '\0';
+  return 0;
+}
+#endif
+
+int ft_sem_create(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  if (SEM_FAILED == (ft_sem->sem = sem_open(name, O_CREAT|O_EXCL, S_IWUSR|S_IRUSR, 1)))
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  key_t key = ft_sem_name2key(name);
+  int nsems = 1;
+
+  ft_sem->semid = semget(key, nsems, IPC_CREAT | IPC_EXCL | S_IWUSR | S_IRUSR);
+  if (ft_sem->semid >= 0) { /* we got here first */
+    struct sembuf sb = {
+      .sem_num = 0,
+      .sem_op = 1, /* number of resources the semaphore has (when decremented down to 0 the semaphore will block) */
+      .sem_flg = 0,
+    };
+    /* the number of semaphore operation structures (struct sembuf) passed to semop */
+    int nsops = 1;
+
+    /* do a semop() to "unlock" the semaphore */
+    if (-1 == semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, nsops)) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+  } else if (errno == EEXIST) { /* someone else got here before us */
+    return -1;
+  } else {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  char path[256];
+  if (ft_sem_name_to_path(name, path, sizeof(path)) < 0)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  ft_sem->fd = open(path, O_CREAT|O_EXCL|O_RDWR, S_IWUSR|S_IRUSR);
+  if (ft_sem->fd < 0)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#endif
+  strncpy(ft_sem->name, name, sizeof ft_sem->name - 1);
+  ft_sem->name[sizeof ft_sem->name - 1] = '\0';
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int ft_sem_open(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  if (SEM_FAILED == (ft_sem->sem = sem_open(name, 0)))
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  key_t key = ft_sem_name2key(name);
+  ft_sem->semid = semget(key, 1, S_IWUSR | S_IRUSR);
+  if (ft_sem->semid < 0) {
+    return -1;
+   }
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  char path[256];
+  if (ft_sem_name_to_path(name, path, sizeof(path)) < 0)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  ft_sem->fd = open(path, O_RDWR);
+  if (ft_sem->fd < 0)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#endif
+  strncpy(ft_sem->name, name, sizeof ft_sem->name - 1);
+  ft_sem->name[sizeof ft_sem->name - 1] = '\0';
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int ft_sem_lock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  return sem_wait(ft_sem->sem);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  struct sembuf sb = {
+    .sem_num = 0,
+    .sem_op = -1,  /* allocate resource (lock) */
+    .sem_flg = 0,
+  };
+  return semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, 1);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  return flock(ft_sem->fd, LOCK_EX);
+#endif
+}
+
+int ft_sem_unlock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  return sem_post(ft_sem->sem);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  struct sembuf sb = {
+    .sem_num = 0,
+    .sem_op = 1,  /* free resource (unlock) */
+    .sem_flg = 0,
+  };
+  return semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, 1);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  return flock(ft_sem->fd, LOCK_UN);
+#endif
+}
+
+int ft_sem_close(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  return sem_close(ft_sem->sem);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  /* NOP -- there's no "close" equivalent */
+  (void)ft_sem;
+  return 0;
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  int ret = close(ft_sem->fd);
+  ft_sem->fd = -1;
+  return ret;
+#endif
+}
+
+int ft_sem_unlink(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
+{
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  return sem_unlink(ft_sem->name);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  return semctl(ft_sem->semid, 0, IPC_RMID);
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  char path[256];
+  if (ft_sem_name_to_path(ft_sem->name, path, sizeof(path)) < 0)
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return unlink(path);
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/ft_sem.h b/src/ft_sem.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9307a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ft_sem.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ *  This file is part of libfaketime, version 0.9.12
+ *
+ *  libfaketime is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ *  under the terms of the GNU General Public License v2 as published by the
+ *  Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ *  libfaketime is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ *  ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ *  FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for
+ *  more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License v2 along
+ *  with the libfaketime; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ *  Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+ */
+
+#ifndef FT_SEM_H
+#define FT_SEM_H
+
+/* semaphore backend options */
+#define FT_POSIX 1
+#define FT_SYSV  2
+#define FT_FLOCK 3
+
+/* set default backend */
+#ifndef FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND
+#define FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND FT_FLOCK
+#endif
+
+/* validate selected backend */
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+#else
+#error "Unknown FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND; select between FT_POSIX, FT_SYSV, and FT_FLOCK"
+#endif
+
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+#include <semaphore.h>
+#endif
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  char name[256];
+#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
+  sem_t *sem;
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
+  int semid;
+#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_FLOCK
+  int fd;
+#endif
+} ft_sem_t;
+
+int ft_sem_create(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+int ft_sem_open(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+int ft_sem_lock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+int ft_sem_unlock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+int ft_sem_close(ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+int ft_sem_unlink(ft_sem_t *ft_sem);
+
+#endif /* FT_SEM_H */
diff --git a/src/libfaketime.c b/src/libfaketime.c
index d4ffcda..74caccb 100644
--- a/src/libfaketime.c
+++ b/src/libfaketime.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <semaphore.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
-#include <sys/sem.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <netinet/in.h>
@@ -75,6 +74,7 @@
 
 #include "time_ops.h"
 #include "faketime_common.h"
+#include "ft_sem.h"
 
 #if defined PTHREAD_SINGLETHREADED_TIME && defined FAKE_STATELESS
 #undef PTHREAD_SINGLETHREADED_TIME
@@ -165,20 +165,6 @@ struct utimbuf {
 #endif
 #endif
 
-/* semaphore backend options */
-#define FT_POSIX 1
-#define FT_SYSV 2
-/* set default backend */
-#ifndef FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND
-#define FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND FT_POSIX
-#endif
-/* validate selected backend */
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-#else
-#error "Unknown FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND; select between FT_POSIX and FT_SYSV"
-#endif
-
 #ifdef FAKE_RANDOM
 #include <sys/random.h>
 #endif
@@ -352,15 +338,6 @@ bool          str_array_contains(const char *haystack, const char *needle);
 void *ft_dlvsym(void *handle, const char *symbol, const char *version, const char *full_name, char *ignore_list, bool should_debug_dlsym);
 
 
-typedef struct {
-  char name[256];
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  sem_t *sem;
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  int semid;
-#endif
-} ft_sem_t;
-
 /** Semaphore protecting shared data */
 static ft_sem_t shared_sem;
 static bool shared_sem_initialized = false;
@@ -450,138 +427,6 @@ static bool parse_config_file = true;
 static void ft_cleanup (void) __attribute__ ((destructor));
 static void ftpl_init (void) __attribute__ ((constructor));
 
-/*
- *      =======================================================================
- *      Semaphore related functions                                     === SEM
- *      =======================================================================
- */
-
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-int ft_sem_name2key(char *name)
-{
-  key_t key;
-  char fullname[256];
-  snprintf(fullname, sizeof(fullname), "/tmp%s", name);
-  fullname[sizeof(fullname) - 1] = '\0';
-  int fd = open(fullname, O_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR);
-  if (fd < 0)
-  {
-    perror("libfaketime: open");
-    return -1;
-  }
-  close(fd);
-  if (-1 == (key = ftok(fullname, 'F')))
-  {
-    perror("libfaketime: ftok");
-    return -1;
-  }
-  return key;
-}
-#endif
-
-int ft_sem_create(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  if (SEM_FAILED == (ft_sem->sem = sem_open(name, O_CREAT|O_EXCL, S_IWUSR|S_IRUSR, 1)))
-  {
-    return -1;
-  }
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  key_t key = ft_sem_name2key(name);
-  int nsems = 1;
-
-  ft_sem->semid = semget(key, nsems, IPC_CREAT | IPC_EXCL | S_IWUSR | S_IRUSR);
-  if (ft_sem->semid >= 0) { /* we got here first */
-    struct sembuf sb = {
-      .sem_num = 0,
-      .sem_op = 1, /* number of resources the semaphore has (when decremented down to 0 the semaphore will block) */
-      .sem_flg = 0,
-    };
-    /* the number of semaphore operation structures (struct sembuf) passed to semop */
-    int nsops = 1;
-
-    /* do a semop() to "unlock" the semaphore */
-    if (-1 == semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, nsops)) {
-      return -1;
-    }
-  } else if (errno == EEXIST) { /* someone else got here before us */
-    return -1;
-  } else {
-    return -1;
-  }
-#endif
-  strncpy(ft_sem->name, name, sizeof ft_sem->name - 1);
-  ft_sem->name[sizeof ft_sem->name - 1] = '\0';
-  return 0;
-}
-
-int ft_sem_open(char *name, ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  if (SEM_FAILED == (ft_sem->sem = sem_open(name, 0)))
-  {
-    return -1;
-  }
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  key_t key = ft_sem_name2key(name);
-  ft_sem->semid = semget(key, 1, S_IWUSR | S_IRUSR);
-  if (ft_sem->semid < 0) {
-    return -1;
-   }
-#endif
-  strncpy(ft_sem->name, name, sizeof ft_sem->name - 1);
-  ft_sem->name[sizeof ft_sem->name - 1] = '\0';
-  return 0;
-}
-
-int ft_sem_lock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  return sem_wait(ft_sem->sem);
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  struct sembuf sb = {
-    .sem_num = 0,
-    .sem_op = -1,  /* allocate resource (lock) */
-    .sem_flg = 0,
-  };
-  return semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, 1);
-#endif
-}
-
-int ft_sem_unlock(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  return sem_post(ft_sem->sem);
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  struct sembuf sb = {
-    .sem_num = 0,
-    .sem_op = 1,  /* free resource (unlock) */
-    .sem_flg = 0,
-  };
-  return semop(ft_sem->semid, &sb, 1);
-#endif
-}
-
-int ft_sem_close(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  return sem_close(ft_sem->sem);
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  /* NOP -- there's no "close" equivalent */
-  (void)ft_sem;
-  return 0;
-#endif
-}
-
-int ft_sem_unlink(ft_sem_t *ft_sem)
-{
-#if FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_POSIX
-  return sem_unlink(ft_sem->name);
-#elif FT_SEMAPHORE_BACKEND == FT_SYSV
-  return semctl(ft_sem->semid, 0, IPC_RMID);
-#endif
-}
-
 /*
  *      =======================================================================
  *      Shared memory related functions                                 === SHM