diff --git a/include/server.h b/include/server.h
index 0729d554..fea0a080 100644
--- a/include/server.h
+++ b/include/server.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 #define UPDATE_TIME_LEN 16
 
 extern int shutdown_pending;
-extern empth_rwlock_t *play_lock;
+extern empth_rwlock_t *update_lock;
 extern empth_rwlock_t *shutdown_lock;
 extern int update_running;
 extern time_t update_time[UPDATE_TIME_LEN];
diff --git a/src/lib/player/dispatch.c b/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
index 73f5051c..c2de9a57 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ dispatch(char *buf, char *redir)
     player->may_sleep = command->c_flags & C_MOD
 	? PLAYER_SLEEP_ON_INPUT : PLAYER_SLEEP_FREELY;
     player->command = command;
-    empth_rwlock_rdlock(play_lock);
+    empth_rwlock_rdlock(update_lock);
     if (redir) {
 	prredir(redir);
 	uprnf(buf);
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ dispatch(char *buf, char *redir)
 	CANT_REACH();
 	break;
     }
-    empth_rwlock_unlock(play_lock);
+    empth_rwlock_unlock(update_lock);
     player->command = NULL;
     if (player->may_sleep != PLAYER_SLEEP_NEVER || !io_eof(player->iop))
 	player->may_sleep = PLAYER_SLEEP_FREELY;
diff --git a/src/server/main.c b/src/server/main.c
index 267de1cd..f67d9b25 100644
--- a/src/server/main.c
+++ b/src/server/main.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static void loc_NTInit(void);
  * Lock to synchronize player threads with update.
  * Update holds it exclusive, commands hold it shared.
  */
-empth_rwlock_t *play_lock;
+empth_rwlock_t *update_lock;
 /*
  * Lock to synchronize player threads with shutdown.
  * Shutdown holds it exclusive, player threads in state PS_PLAYING
@@ -380,8 +380,9 @@ start_server(int flags)
     if (journal_startup() < 0)
 	exit(1);
 
+    update_lock = empth_rwlock_create("Update");
     shutdown_lock = empth_rwlock_create("Shutdown");
-    if (!shutdown_lock)
+    if (!update_lock || !shutdown_lock)
 	exit_nomem();
 
     market_init();
diff --git a/src/server/update.c b/src/server/update.c
index dd6f2acb..5afdb9ab 100644
--- a/src/server/update.c
+++ b/src/server/update.c
@@ -74,10 +74,6 @@ update_init(void)
     if (update_get_schedule() < 0)
 	exit(1);
 
-    play_lock = empth_rwlock_create("Update");
-    if (!play_lock)
-	exit_nomem();
-
     dp = player_new(-1);
     if (!dp)
 	exit_nomem();
@@ -207,17 +203,17 @@ update_run(void)
 	    empth_wakeup(p->proc);
 	}
     }
-    empth_rwlock_wrlock(play_lock);
+    empth_rwlock_wrlock(update_lock);
     if (*pre_update_hook) {
 	if (run_hook(pre_update_hook, "pre-update")) {
-	    empth_rwlock_unlock(play_lock);
+	    empth_rwlock_unlock(update_lock);
 	    return;
 	}
     }
     update_running = 1;
     update_main();
     update_running = 0;
-    empth_rwlock_unlock(play_lock);
+    empth_rwlock_unlock(update_lock);
 }
 
 int