diff --git a/bitbake/bin/bitbake-worker b/bitbake/bin/bitbake-worker
index af17b87..3390f63 100755
--- a/bitbake/bin/bitbake-worker
+++ b/bitbake/bin/bitbake-worker
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import select
 import errno
 import signal
+from multiprocessing import Lock
 
 # Users shouldn't be running this code directly
 if len(sys.argv) != 2 or not sys.argv[1].startswith("decafbad"):
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@
 
 worker_pipe = sys.stdout.fileno()
 bb.utils.nonblockingfd(worker_pipe)
+# Need to guard against multiprocessing being used in child processes
+# and multiple processes trying to write to the parent at the same time
+worker_pipe_lock = None
 
 handler = bb.event.LogHandler()
 logger.addHandler(handler)
@@ -85,10 +89,13 @@
 
 def worker_child_fire(event, d):
     global worker_pipe
+    global worker_pipe_lock
 
     data = "<event>" + pickle.dumps(event) + "</event>"
     try:
+        worker_pipe_lock.acquire()
         worker_pipe.write(data)
+        worker_pipe_lock.release()
     except IOError:
         sigterm_handler(None, None)
         raise
@@ -157,6 +164,7 @@
     if pid == 0:
         def child():
             global worker_pipe
+            global worker_pipe_lock
             pipein.close()
 
             signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, sigterm_handler)
@@ -169,6 +177,7 @@
             bb.event.worker_pid = os.getpid()
             bb.event.worker_fire = worker_child_fire
             worker_pipe = pipeout
+            worker_pipe_lock = Lock()
 
             # Make the child the process group leader and ensure no
             # child process will be controlled by the current terminal