diff --git a/include/ucore/ticket_lock.h b/include/ucore/ticket_lock.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abaf3f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/ucore/ticket_lock.h
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#ifndef UC_TICKET_LOCK_H_
+#define UC_TICKET_LOCK_H_
+
+#include <pthread.h>
+
+/** An fair alternative to a bare pthread_mutex_t to prevent starvation*/
+struct UCTicketLock {
+    pthread_cond_t cond;
+    pthread_mutex_t mutex;
+    unsigned long queue_head, queue_tail;
+};
+
+/** Static initializer for an UCTicketLock. Use as e.g
+ *
+ * struct UCTicketLock my_lock = UC_TICKET_LOCK_INITIALIZER;
+ */
+#define UC_TICKET_LOCK_INITIALIZER { PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER, PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER,0, 0}
+
+/** Initialize a UCTicketLock. 
+ * The default attributes for the pthread mutex and condition variable is used.
+ *
+ * @return 0 on success, errno value on failure
+*/
+int uc_ticket_lock_init(struct UCTicketLock *lock);
+
+/** Initialize a UCTicketLock with attributes
+ *
+ * @param mattr attribute used for the mutex, or NULL
+ * @param cattr attribute used for the condition variable, or NULL
+ *
+ * @return 0 on success, errno value on failure
+*/
+int uc_ticket_lock_init_ex(struct UCTicketLock *lock, pthread_mutexattr_t *mattr, pthread_condattr_t *cattr);
+
+/** Acquire the lock
+ */
+void uc_ticket_lock(struct UCTicketLock *lock);
+
+/** Release the lock
+ */
+void uc_ticket_unlock(struct UCTicketLock *lock);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/ticket_lock.c b/src/ticket_lock.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6b03f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ticket_lock.c
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#include <assert.h>
+#include "ucore/ticket_lock.h"
+
+int uc_ticket_lock_init(struct UCTicketLock *lock)
+{
+    return uc_ticket_lock_init_ex(lock, NULL, NULL);    
+}
+
+int uc_ticket_lock_init_ex(struct UCTicketLock *lock, pthread_mutexattr_t *mattr, pthread_condattr_t *cattr)
+{
+    int rc;
+    lock->queue_head = 0;
+    lock->queue_tail = 0;
+
+    rc = pthread_mutex_init(&lock->mutex, mattr);
+    assert(rc == 0);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        return rc;
+    }
+
+    rc = pthread_cond_init(&lock->cond, cattr);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        pthread_mutex_destroy(&lock->mutex);
+    }
+    assert(rc == 0);
+
+    return rc;
+}
+
+void uc_ticket_lock(struct UCTicketLock *lock)
+{
+    unsigned long queue_me;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&lock->mutex);
+    queue_me = lock->queue_tail++;
+    while (queue_me != lock->queue_head)
+    {
+        pthread_cond_wait(&lock->cond, &lock->mutex);
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock->mutex);
+}
+
+void uc_ticket_unlock(struct UCTicketLock *lock)
+{
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&lock->mutex);
+    lock->queue_head++;
+    pthread_cond_broadcast(&lock->cond);
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock->mutex);
+}