A method for file lock recovery in a distributed computer system. The method includes executing a distributed computer system having a plurality of nodes comprising a cluster, and initiating a network file system server fail over from one node of the cluster to an adoptive node of the cluster. File lock services are then stopped at the adoptive node. File lock services are subsequently restarted at the adoptive node, wherein the restart causes the adoptive node to commence a grace period for other network file system clients to connect to the adoptive node and reclaim file locks. After restarting file lock services, a cluster file system is updated on the adoptive node with process identifiers, and file lock services are resumed at the adoptive node. The cluster file system can be simultaneously exposing the file lock services to other clients as well, like CIFS, etc.