In a distributed computing environment that includes compute nodes, where the compute nodes execute a plurality of tasks, a lock for resources may be administered. Administering the lock may be carried out by requesting, in an atomic operation by a requesting task, the lock, including: determining, by the requesting task, whether the lock is available; if the lock is available, obtaining the lock; and if the lock is unavailable, joining, by the requesting task, a queue of tasks waiting for availability of the lock.