diff --git a/src/wallet/api/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/api/wallet.cpp
index c7dbd29e4..e2c4fe7af 100644
--- a/src/wallet/api/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/api/wallet.cpp
@@ -721,6 +721,7 @@ bool WalletImpl::close(bool store)
         LOG_PRINT_L1("Calling wallet::stop...");
         m_wallet->stop();
         LOG_PRINT_L1("wallet::stop done");
+        m_wallet->deinit();
         result = true;
         clearStatus();
     } catch (const std::exception &e) {
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
index 28049fe92..f07736ebd 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
@@ -2636,6 +2636,7 @@ void wallet2::detach_blockchain(uint64_t height)
 bool wallet2::deinit()
 {
   m_is_initialized=false;
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset();
   return true;
 }
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2802,10 +2803,12 @@ bool wallet2::store_keys(const std::string& keys_file_name, const epee::wipeable
   crypto::chacha20(account_data.data(), account_data.size(), key, keys_file_data.iv, &cipher[0]);
   keys_file_data.account_data = cipher;
 
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset();
   std::string buf;
   r = ::serialization::dump_binary(keys_file_data, buf);
   r = r && epee::file_io_utils::save_string_to_file(keys_file_name, buf); //and never touch wallet_keys_file again, only read
   CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(r, false, "failed to generate wallet keys file " << keys_file_name);
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset(new tools::file_locker(m_keys_file));
 
   return true;
 }
@@ -3935,12 +3938,17 @@ void wallet2::load(const std::string& wallet_, const epee::wipeable_string& pass
   boost::system::error_code e;
   bool exists = boost::filesystem::exists(m_keys_file, e);
   THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(e || !exists, error::file_not_found, m_keys_file);
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset(new tools::file_locker(m_keys_file));
+  THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(!m_keys_file_locker->locked(), error::wallet_internal_error, "internal error: \"" + m_keys_file + "\" is opened by another wallet program");
 
+  // this temporary unlocking is necessary for Windows (otherwise the file couldn't be loaded).
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset();
   if (!load_keys(m_keys_file, password))
   {
     THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(true, error::file_read_error, m_keys_file);
   }
   LOG_PRINT_L0("Loaded wallet keys file, with public address: " << m_account.get_public_address_str(m_nettype));
+  m_keys_file_locker.reset(new tools::file_locker(m_keys_file));
 
   //keys loaded ok!
   //try to load wallet file. but even if we failed, it is not big problem
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet2.h b/src/wallet/wallet2.h
index 705933979..d33d8258b 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet2.h
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet2.h
@@ -1308,6 +1308,7 @@ namespace tools
     boost::optional<crypto::chacha_key> m_ringdb_key;
 
     uint64_t m_last_block_reward;
+    std::unique_ptr<tools::file_locker> m_keys_file_locker;
   };
 }
 BOOST_CLASS_VERSION(tools::wallet2, 25)