diff --git a/osc-staging.py b/osc-staging.py
index 0a90b8aa..ad22e3c5 100644
--- a/osc-staging.py
+++ b/osc-staging.py
@@ -157,6 +157,19 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
 
     "list" will list/supersede requests for ring packages or all if no rings.
 
+    "lock" acquire a hold on the project in order to execute multiple commands
+        and prevent others from interrupting. An example:
+
+        lock -m "checkin round"
+
+        list --supersede
+        adi
+        accept A B C D E
+
+        unlock
+
+        Each command will update the lock to keep it up-to-date.
+
     "repair" will attempt to repair the state of a request that has been
         corrupted.
 
@@ -234,7 +247,10 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
 
         Use the --cleanup flag to include all obsolete requests.
 
-    "unlock" will remove the staging lock in case it gets stuck
+    "unlock" will remove the staging lock in case it gets stuck or a manual hold
+        If a command lock gets stuck while a hold is placed on a project the
+        unlock command will need to be run twice since there are two layers of
+        locks.
 
     "rebuild" will rebuild broken packages in the given stagings or all
         The rebuild command will only trigger builds for packages with less than
@@ -257,6 +273,7 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
         osc staging ignore [-m MESSAGE] REQUEST...
         osc staging unignore [--cleanup] [REQUEST...|all]
         osc staging list [--supersede]
+        osc staging lock [-m MESSAGE]
         osc staging select [--no-freeze] [--move [--from STAGING]]
             [--add PACKAGE]
             STAGING REQUEST...
@@ -302,6 +319,8 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
         min_args, max_args = 0, None
     elif cmd in ('cleanup_rings', 'acheck'):
         min_args, max_args = 0, 0
+    elif cmd == 'lock':
+        min_args, max_args = 0, 0
     elif cmd == 'unlock':
         min_args, max_args = 0, 0
     elif cmd == 'rebuild':
@@ -336,7 +355,7 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
 
     lock = OBSLock(opts.apiurl, opts.project, reason=cmd)
     if cmd == 'unlock':
-        lock.release()
+        lock.release(force=True)
         return
 
     with lock:
@@ -543,6 +562,8 @@ def do_staging(self, subcmd, opts, *args):
             UnignoreCommand(api).perform(args[1:], opts.cleanup)
         elif cmd == 'list':
             ListCommand(api).perform(supersede=opts.supersede)
+        elif cmd == 'lock':
+            lock.hold(opts.message)
         elif cmd == 'adi':
             AdiCommand(api).perform(args[1:], move=opts.move, by_dp=opts.by_develproject, split=opts.split)
         elif cmd == 'rebuild':
diff --git a/osclib/obslock.py b/osclib/obslock.py
index 5df96473..abf14615 100644
--- a/osclib/obslock.py
+++ b/osclib/obslock.py
@@ -37,23 +37,30 @@ class OBSLock(object):
         self.ttl = ttl
         self.user = conf.config['api_host_options'][apiurl]['user']
         self.reason = reason
+        self.reason_sub = None
         self.locked = False
 
     def _signature(self):
         """Create a signature with a timestamp."""
-        reason = str(self.reason).replace('@', 'at').replace('#', 'hash')
+        reason = str(self.reason)
+        if self.reason_sub:
+            reason += ' ({})'.format(self.reason_sub)
+        reason = reason.replace('@', 'at').replace('#', 'hash')
         return '%s#%s@%s' % (self.user, reason, datetime.isoformat(datetime.utcnow()))
 
     def _parse(self, signature):
         """Parse a signature into an user and a timestamp."""
-        user, reason, ts = None, None, None
+        user, reason, reason_sub, ts = None, None, None, None
         try:
             rest, ts_str = signature.split('@')
             user, reason = rest.split('#')
+            if ' (hold' in reason:
+                reason, reason_sub = reason.split(' (', 1)
+                reason_sub = reason_sub.rstrip(')')
             ts = datetime.strptime(ts_str, '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f')
         except (AttributeError, ValueError):
             pass
-        return user, reason, ts
+        return user, reason, reason_sub, ts
 
     def _read(self):
         url = makeurl(self.apiurl, ['source', self.lock, '_attribute', '%s:LockedBy' % self.ns])
@@ -82,34 +89,48 @@ class OBSLock(object):
             warnings.warn('Locking attribute is not found.  Create one to avoid race conditions.')
             return self
 
-        user, reason, ts = self._parse(self._read())
+        user, reason, reason_sub, ts = self._parse(self._read())
         if user and ts:
             now = datetime.utcnow()
             if now < ts:
                 raise Exception('Lock acquired from the future [%s] by [%s]. Try later.' % (ts, user))
             delta = now - ts
-            if delta.seconds < self.ttl:
+            if delta.seconds < self.ttl and not(
+                user == self.user and (reason == 'lock' or reason.startswith('hold'))):
                 print 'Lock acquired by [%s] %s ago, reason <%s>. Try later.' % (user, delta, reason)
                 exit(-1)
                 # raise Exception('Lock acquired by [%s]. Try later.' % user)
+        if reason and reason != 'lock':
+            self.reason_sub = reason
         self._write(self._signature())
 
         time.sleep(1)
-        user, _, _ = self._parse(self._read())
+        user, _, _, _ = self._parse(self._read())
         if user != self.user:
             raise Exception('Race condition, [%s] wins. Try later.' % user)
 
         return self
 
-    def release(self):
+    def release(self, force=False):
         # If the project do not have locks configured, simply ignore
         # the operation.
         if not self.lock:
             return
 
-        user, reason, _ = self._parse(self._read())
+        user, reason, reason_sub, _ = self._parse(self._read())
         if user == self.user:
-            self._write('')
+            if reason_sub:
+                self.reason = reason_sub
+                self.reason_sub = None
+                self._write(self._signature())
+            elif not reason.startswith('hold') or force:
+                self._write('')
+
+    def hold(self, message=None):
+        self.reason = 'hold'
+        if message:
+            self.reason += ': ' + message
+        self.acquire()
 
     __enter__ = acquire