diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/repeat/support/ResultHolderResultQueue.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/repeat/support/ResultHolderResultQueue.java
index e282a0dd7..5456e9912 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/repeat/support/ResultHolderResultQueue.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/repeat/support/ResultHolderResultQueue.java
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ public class ResultHolderResultQueue implements ResultQueue<ResultHolder> {
 	 * @see ResultQueue#expect()
 	 */
 	public void expect() throws InterruptedException {
+		waits.acquire();
+		// Don't acquire the lock in a synchronized block - might deadlock
 		synchronized (lock) {
-			waits.acquire();
 			count++;
 		}
 	}