In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes identifying a record having a lock being held being held by a first process, where the process is running within a first system of a plurality of systems, sending an identification of the lock for the record to a second system of the plurality of systems, receiving, at the first system, from the second system, information associated with a first request for the lock of the record, determining at the first system a second request for the lock of the record held by the first process, and conditionally releasing the lock being held by the first process, based on an analysis of the information associated with the first request and information associated with the second request.