diff --git a/compute_hyperv/nova/coordination.py b/compute_hyperv/nova/coordination.py
index 9473ee67..591220ea 100644
--- a/compute_hyperv/nova/coordination.py
+++ b/compute_hyperv/nova/coordination.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import uuid
 
 import decorator
 from nova import exception
+from nova import utils
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
 from oslo_utils import timeutils
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ class Coordinator(object):
         self.started = False
         self.prefix = prefix
 
+    @utils.synchronized(name="coordinator_start")
     def start(self):
         if self.started:
             return
diff --git a/compute_hyperv/nova/driver.py b/compute_hyperv/nova/driver.py
index 8eca11f8..f0c075e2 100644
--- a/compute_hyperv/nova/driver.py
+++ b/compute_hyperv/nova/driver.py
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ class HyperVDriver(driver.ComputeDriver):
         # further driver initialisation.
         self._check_minimum_windows_version()
 
+        # We'll initialize coordination as early as possible, avoiding
+        # the risk of using locks before the mechanism is enabled.
+        if self.use_coordination:
+            coordination.COORDINATOR.start()
+
         super(HyperVDriver, self).__init__(virtapi)
 
         self._hostops = hostops.HostOps()
@@ -158,9 +163,6 @@ class HyperVDriver(driver.ComputeDriver):
         return False
 
     def init_host(self, host):
-        if self.use_coordination:
-            coordination.COORDINATOR.start()
-
         self._serialconsoleops.start_console_handlers()
 
         self._set_event_handler_callbacks()