diff --git a/cmd/restic/lock.go b/cmd/restic/lock.go
index 95fcd0c65..a19014ae9 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/lock.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/lock.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ retryLoop:
 	globalLocks.Lock()
 	globalLocks.locks[lock] = lockInfo
 	go refreshLocks(ctx, lockInfo, refreshChan, forcedRefreshChan)
-	go monitorLockRefresh(ctx, lockInfo, refreshChan, forcedRefreshChan)
+	go monitorLockRefresh(ctx, repo.Backend(), lockInfo, refreshChan, forcedRefreshChan)
 	globalLocks.Unlock()
 
 	return lock, ctx, err
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func refreshLocks(ctx context.Context, lockInfo *lockContext, refreshed chan<- s
 	}
 }
 
-func monitorLockRefresh(ctx context.Context, lockInfo *lockContext, refreshed <-chan struct{}, forcedRefresh chan<- struct{}) {
+func monitorLockRefresh(ctx context.Context, backend restic.Backend, lockInfo *lockContext, refreshed <-chan struct{}, forcedRefresh chan<- struct{}) {
 	// time.Now() might use a monotonic timer which is paused during standby
 	// convert to unix time to ensure we compare real time values
 	lastRefresh := time.Now().UnixNano()
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func monitorLockRefresh(ctx context.Context, lockInfo *lockContext, refreshed <-
 			}
 
 			// keep on going if our current lock still exists
-			if tryRefreshStaleLock(ctx, lockInfo.lock) {
+			if tryRefreshStaleLock(ctx, backend, lockInfo.lock, lockInfo.cancel) {
 				lastRefresh = time.Now().UnixNano()
 
 				// inform refresh gorountine about forced refresh
@@ -229,10 +229,19 @@ func monitorLockRefresh(ctx context.Context, lockInfo *lockContext, refreshed <-
 	}
 }
 
-func tryRefreshStaleLock(ctx context.Context, lock *restic.Lock) bool {
+func tryRefreshStaleLock(ctx context.Context, backend restic.Backend, lock *restic.Lock, cancel context.CancelFunc) bool {
+	freeze := restic.AsBackend[restic.FreezeBackend](backend)
+	if freeze != nil {
+		debug.Log("freezing backend")
+		freeze.Freeze()
+		defer freeze.Unfreeze()
+	}
+
 	err := lock.RefreshStaleLock(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		Warnf("failed to refresh stale lock: %v\n", err)
+		// cancel context while the backend is still frozen to prevent accidental modifications
+		cancel()
 		return false
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/backend/sema/backend.go b/internal/backend/sema/backend.go
index dd4859ed1..d60788f26 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sema/backend.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sema/backend.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package sema
 import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ var _ restic.Backend = &connectionLimitedBackend{}
 // connectionLimitedBackend limits the number of concurrent operations.
 type connectionLimitedBackend struct {
 	restic.Backend
-	sem semaphore
+	sem        semaphore
+	freezeLock sync.Mutex
 }
 
 // NewBackend creates a backend that limits the concurrent operations on the underlying backend
@@ -39,9 +41,23 @@ func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) typeDependentLimit(t restic.FileType) func()
 		return func() {}
 	}
 	be.sem.GetToken()
+	// prevent token usage while the backend is frozen
+	be.freezeLock.Lock()
+	defer be.freezeLock.Unlock()
+
 	return be.sem.ReleaseToken
 }
 
+// Freeze blocks all backend operations except those on lock files
+func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Freeze() {
+	be.freezeLock.Lock()
+}
+
+// Unfreeze allows all backend operations to continue
+func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Unfreeze() {
+	be.freezeLock.Unlock()
+}
+
 // Save adds new Data to the backend.
 func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Save(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle, rd restic.RewindReader) error {
 	if err := h.Valid(); err != nil {
@@ -50,6 +66,10 @@ func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Save(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle, r
 
 	defer be.typeDependentLimit(h.Type)()
 
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	return be.Backend.Save(ctx, h, rd)
 }
 
@@ -68,6 +88,10 @@ func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Load(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle, l
 
 	defer be.typeDependentLimit(h.Type)()
 
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	return be.Backend.Load(ctx, h, length, offset, fn)
 }
 
@@ -79,6 +103,10 @@ func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Stat(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle) (
 
 	defer be.typeDependentLimit(h.Type)()
 
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return restic.FileInfo{}, ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	return be.Backend.Stat(ctx, h)
 }
 
@@ -90,6 +118,10 @@ func (be *connectionLimitedBackend) Remove(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle)
 
 	defer be.typeDependentLimit(h.Type)()
 
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	return be.Backend.Remove(ctx, h)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/restic/backend.go b/internal/restic/backend.go
index 58aab1f3e..df3281641 100644
--- a/internal/restic/backend.go
+++ b/internal/restic/backend.go
@@ -92,6 +92,14 @@ func AsBackend[B Backend](b Backend) B {
 	return be
 }
 
+type FreezeBackend interface {
+	Backend
+	// Freeze blocks all backend operations except those on lock files
+	Freeze()
+	// Unfreeze allows all backend operations to continue
+	Unfreeze()
+}
+
 // FileInfo is contains information about a file in the backend.
 type FileInfo struct {
 	Size int64