diff --git a/pclsync/pfs.h b/pclsync/pfs.h
index db14a3b..ae11a30 100644
--- a/pclsync/pfs.h
+++ b/pclsync/pfs.h
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ typedef struct {
 extern PSYNC_THREAD const char *psync_thread_name; 
 static inline int pfs_do_lock_file(psync_openfile_t *of, const char *file,
                                          unsigned long line) {
+  if (!psql_locked()) {
+    pdbg_logf(D_ERROR, "lock ordering violation: pfs_lock_file called without psql_lock at %s:%lu", file, line);
+    abort();
+  }
   if (unlikely(pthread_mutex_trylock(&of->mutex))) {
     struct timespec tm;
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &tm);