diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
index d4d6f50851..70c6a8b34d 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
@@ -339,7 +339,12 @@ AudioEngine::process_callback (pframes_t nframes)
 				}
 				/* release latency lock, **before** reacquiring process-lock */
 				ll.release ();
-				tm.acquire ();
+				/* this should not be able to fail, but it is good practice
+				 * to only use try-lock in the process callback.
+				 */
+				if (!tm.try_acquire ()) {
+					return 0; // XXX or spin?
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}