diff --git a/net/local/local_bind.c b/net/local/local_bind.c
index 627b6eee5c..10c7220ed7 100644
--- a/net/local/local_bind.c
+++ b/net/local/local_bind.c
@@ -64,11 +64,15 @@ int psock_local_bind(FAR struct socket *psock,
 
   /* Check if local address is already in use */
 
+  net_lock();
   if (local_findconn(conn, unaddr) != NULL)
     {
+      net_unlock();
       return -EADDRINUSE;
     }
 
+  net_unlock();
+
   /* Save the address family */
 
   conn->lc_instance_id = -1;
diff --git a/net/local/local_conn.c b/net/local/local_conn.c
index acb6f80fe0..d1403a3a1d 100644
--- a/net/local/local_conn.c
+++ b/net/local/local_conn.c
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ FAR struct local_conn_s *local_peerconn(FAR struct local_conn_s *conn)
  *   This is normally something done by the implementation of the socket()
  *   API
  *
+ * Assumptions:
+ *   This function must be called with the network locked.
+ *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 FAR struct local_conn_s *local_alloc(void)
@@ -170,9 +173,7 @@ FAR struct local_conn_s *local_alloc(void)
 
       /* Add the connection structure to the list of listeners */
 
-      net_lock();
       dq_addlast(&conn->lc_conn.node, &g_local_connections);
-      net_unlock();
     }
 
   return conn;
@@ -186,6 +187,9 @@ FAR struct local_conn_s *local_alloc(void)
  *    connection in LISTEN. In that case, this function will create
  *    a new connection and initialize it.
  *
+ * Assumptions:
+ *   This function must be called with the network locked.
+ *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 int local_alloc_accept(FAR struct local_conn_s *server,
@@ -262,6 +266,9 @@ err:
  *   Free a packet Unix domain connection structure that is no longer in use.
  *   This should be done by the implementation of close().
  *
+ * Assumptions:
+ *   This function must be called with the network locked.
+ *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 void local_free(FAR struct local_conn_s *conn)
@@ -274,7 +281,6 @@ void local_free(FAR struct local_conn_s *conn)
 
   /* Remove the server from the list of listeners. */
 
-  net_lock();
   dq_rem(&conn->lc_conn.node, &g_local_connections);
 
   if (local_peerconn(conn) && conn->lc_peer)
@@ -283,8 +289,6 @@ void local_free(FAR struct local_conn_s *conn)
       conn->lc_peer = NULL;
     }
 
-  net_unlock();
-
   /* Make sure that the read-only FIFO is closed */
 
   if (conn->lc_infile.f_inode != NULL)
diff --git a/net/local/local_connect.c b/net/local/local_connect.c
index 6ae84213d7..b768a2bc92 100644
--- a/net/local/local_connect.c
+++ b/net/local/local_connect.c
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ static int inline local_stream_connect(FAR struct local_conn_s *client,
 
   DEBUGASSERT(client->lc_outfile.f_inode != NULL);
 
+  net_lock();
   ret = local_alloc_accept(server, client, &conn);
+  net_unlock();
   if (ret < 0)
     {
       nerr("ERROR: Failed to alloc accept conn %s: %d\n",
@@ -150,7 +152,9 @@ static int inline local_stream_connect(FAR struct local_conn_s *client,
   return ret;
 
 errout_with_conn:
+  net_lock();
   local_free(conn);
+  net_unlock();
 
 errout_with_outfd:
   file_close(&client->lc_outfile);
diff --git a/net/local/local_sendmsg.c b/net/local/local_sendmsg.c
index a06b925322..64f14457bb 100644
--- a/net/local/local_sendmsg.c
+++ b/net/local/local_sendmsg.c
@@ -306,12 +306,16 @@ static ssize_t local_sendto(FAR struct socket *psock,
       return -EISCONN;
     }
 
+  net_lock();
   if (local_findconn(conn, unaddr) == NULL)
     {
+      net_unlock();
       nerr("ERROR: No such file or directory\n");
       return -ENOENT;
     }
 
+  net_unlock();
+
   /* Make sure that dgram is sent safely */
 
   ret = nxmutex_lock(&conn->lc_sendlock);
diff --git a/net/local/local_sockif.c b/net/local/local_sockif.c
index ec1649c0e5..47f16c87b5 100644
--- a/net/local/local_sockif.c
+++ b/net/local/local_sockif.c
@@ -128,7 +128,10 @@ static int local_sockif_alloc(FAR struct socket *psock)
 {
   /* Allocate the local connection structure */
 
-  FAR struct local_conn_s *conn = local_alloc();
+  FAR struct local_conn_s *conn;
+  net_lock();
+  conn = local_alloc();
+  net_unlock();
   if (conn == NULL)
     {
       /* Failed to reserve a connection structure */