diff --git a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/aggregator/CorrelatingMessageHandler.java b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/aggregator/CorrelatingMessageHandler.java
index 25c3aa73dc..37f2627c8f 100644
--- a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/aggregator/CorrelatingMessageHandler.java
+++ b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/aggregator/CorrelatingMessageHandler.java
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ public class CorrelatingMessageHandler extends AbstractMessageHandler implements
 
 	private Object getLock(Object correlationKey) {
 		synchronized(correlationLocksMonitor){
-			locks.putIfAbsent(correlationKey, correlationKey);
+			locks.putIfAbsent(correlationKey, new Object());
 			return locks.get(correlationKey);
 		}
 	}