diff --git a/utils/dbfixup.py b/utils/dbfixup.py
index a08bf5ae..0e3310dd 100755
--- a/utils/dbfixup.py
+++ b/utils/dbfixup.py
@@ -536,8 +536,10 @@ def update_seg_fns(
         changes += new_changes
 
         with open(fn_out, "w") as f:
+            util.lock_file(f, 10)
             for line in sorted(lines):
                 print(line, file=f)
+            util.unlock_file(f)
 
         if changes is not None:
             seg_files += 1
diff --git a/utils/sort_db.py b/utils/sort_db.py
index 7256b452..2d09a866 100755
--- a/utils/sort_db.py
+++ b/utils/sort_db.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ import sys
 import json
 import utils.xjson as xjson
 import utils.cmp as cmp
+from prjxray.util import lock_file, unlock_file
 
 
 def split_all(s, chars):
@@ -344,9 +345,11 @@ def sort_db(pathname):
     #            copy[i], tosort[i])
 
     with open(pathname, 'w') as f:
+        lock_file(f, 10)
         for _, l in tosort:
             f.write(l)
             f.write('\n')
+        unlock_file(f)
 
     return True
 
@@ -405,8 +408,10 @@ def sort_db_text(n):
     rows.sort(key=lambda i: i[0])
 
     with open(n, 'w') as f:
+        lock_file(f, 10)
         for l in rows:
             f.write(l[-1])
+        unlock_file(f)
 
     return True