diff --git a/driver/level3/level3_thread.c b/driver/level3/level3_thread.c
index aeb5e6ed4e..3411a3e9be 100644
--- a/driver/level3/level3_thread.c
+++ b/driver/level3/level3_thread.c
@@ -514,6 +514,15 @@ static int gemm_driver(blas_arg_t *args, BLASLONG *range_m, BLASLONG
 		       *range_n, FLOAT *sa, FLOAT *sb,
                        BLASLONG nthreads_m, BLASLONG nthreads_n) {
 
+#ifndef USE_OPENMP
+#ifndef OS_WINDOWS
+static pthread_mutex_t  level3_lock    = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
+#else
+CRITICAL_SECTION level3_lock;
+InitializeCriticalSection((PCRITICAL_SECTION)&level3_lock);
+#endif
+#endif
+
   blas_arg_t newarg;
 
 #ifndef USE_ALLOC_HEAP
@@ -554,6 +563,14 @@ static int gemm_driver(blas_arg_t *args, BLASLONG *range_m, BLASLONG
 #endif
 #endif
 
+#ifndef USE_OPENMP
+#ifndef OS_WINDOWS
+pthread_mutex_lock(&level3_lock);
+#else
+EnterCriticalSection((PCRITICAL_SECTION)&level3_lock);
+#endif
+#endif
+
 #ifdef USE_ALLOC_HEAP
   /* Dynamically allocate workspace */
   job = (job_t*)malloc(MAX_CPU_NUMBER * sizeof(job_t));
@@ -671,6 +688,14 @@ static int gemm_driver(blas_arg_t *args, BLASLONG *range_m, BLASLONG
   free(job);
 #endif
 
+#ifndef USE_OPENMP
+#ifndef OS_WINDOWS
+  pthread_mutex_unlock(&level3_lock);
+#else
+  LeaveCriticalSection((PCRITICAL_SECTION)&level3_lock);
+#endif
+#endif
+
   return 0;
 }