diff --git a/apps/app_chanspy.c b/apps/app_chanspy.c
index 31a1e18..78733ef 100644
--- a/apps/app_chanspy.c
+++ b/apps/app_chanspy.c
@@ -532,12 +532,12 @@ static int attach_barge(struct ast_autochan *spyee_autochan,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	ast_channel_lock(internal_bridge_autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_lock(internal_bridge_autochan);
 	if (start_spying(internal_bridge_autochan, spyer_name, bridge_whisper_audiohook)) {
 		ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "Unable to attach barge audiohook on spyee '%s'. Barge mode disabled.\n", name);
 		retval = -1;
 	}
-	ast_channel_unlock(internal_bridge_autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_unlock(internal_bridge_autochan);
 
 	*spyee_bridge_autochan = internal_bridge_autochan;
 
@@ -569,9 +569,9 @@ static int channel_spy(struct ast_channel *chan, struct ast_autochan *spyee_auto
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	ast_channel_lock(spyee_autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_lock(spyee_autochan);
 	name = ast_strdupa(ast_channel_name(spyee_autochan->chan));
-	ast_channel_unlock(spyee_autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_unlock(spyee_autochan);
 
 	ast_verb(2, "Spying on channel %s\n", name);
 	/*** DOCUMENTATION
diff --git a/include/asterisk/autochan.h b/include/asterisk/autochan.h
index 2ace4f2..e62a299 100644
--- a/include/asterisk/autochan.h
+++ b/include/asterisk/autochan.h
@@ -56,8 +56,28 @@ struct ast_autochan {
  * to save off the pointer using ast_channel_ref and to unref the channel when you
  * are finished with the pointer. If you do not do this and a masquerade occurs on
  * the channel, then it is possible that your saved pointer will become invalid.
+ *
+ * 3. If you want to lock the autochan->chan channel, be sure to use
+ * ast_autochan_channel_lock and ast_autochan_channel_unlock. An attempt to lock
+ * the autochan->chan directly may result in it being changed after you've
+ * retrieved the value of chan, but before you've had a chance to lock it.
+ * First when chan is locked, the autochan structure is guaranteed to keep the
+ * same channel.
  */
 
+#define ast_autochan_channel_lock(autochan) \
+	do { \
+		struct ast_channel *autochan_chan = autochan->chan; \
+		ast_channel_lock(autochan_chan); \
+		if (autochan->chan != autochan_chan) { \
+			ast_channel_unlock(autochan_chan); \
+			continue; \
+		} \
+	} while(0);
+
+#define ast_autochan_channel_unlock(autochan) \
+	ast_channel_unlock(autochan->chan);
+
 /*!
  * \brief set up a new ast_autochan structure
  *
diff --git a/main/autochan.c b/main/autochan.c
index 7da249a..b8c1eab 100644
--- a/main/autochan.c
+++ b/main/autochan.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct ast_autochan *ast_autochan_setup(struct ast_channel *chan)
 
 	autochan->chan = ast_channel_ref(chan);
 
-	ast_channel_lock(autochan->chan);
+	ast_channel_lock(autochan->chan); /* autochan was still private, no need for ast_autochan_channel_lock() */
 	AST_LIST_INSERT_TAIL(ast_channel_autochans(autochan->chan), autochan, list);
 	ast_channel_unlock(autochan->chan);
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ void ast_autochan_destroy(struct ast_autochan *autochan)
 {
 	struct ast_autochan *autochan_iter;
 
-	ast_channel_lock(autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_lock(autochan);
 	AST_LIST_TRAVERSE_SAFE_BEGIN(ast_channel_autochans(autochan->chan), autochan_iter, list) {
 		if (autochan_iter == autochan) {
 			AST_LIST_REMOVE_CURRENT(list);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void ast_autochan_destroy(struct ast_autochan *autochan)
 		}
 	}
 	AST_LIST_TRAVERSE_SAFE_END;
-	ast_channel_unlock(autochan->chan);
+	ast_autochan_channel_unlock(autochan);
 
 	autochan->chan = ast_channel_unref(autochan->chan);