diff --git a/kafka/client_async.py b/kafka/client_async.py
index b6adb775b..ba5c96034 100644
--- a/kafka/client_async.py
+++ b/kafka/client_async.py
@@ -845,6 +845,7 @@ def check_version(self, node_id=None, timeout=2, strict=False):
             UnrecognizedBrokerVersion: please file bug if seen!
             AssertionError (if strict=True): please file bug if seen!
         """
+        self._lock.acquire()
         end = time.time() + timeout
         while time.time() < end:
 
@@ -852,6 +853,7 @@ def check_version(self, node_id=None, timeout=2, strict=False):
             # which can block for an increasing backoff period
             try_node = node_id or self.least_loaded_node()
             if try_node is None:
+                self._lock.release()
                 raise Errors.NoBrokersAvailable()
             self._maybe_connect(try_node)
             conn = self._conns[try_node]
@@ -866,16 +868,19 @@ def check_version(self, node_id=None, timeout=2, strict=False):
                     # cache the api versions map if it's available (starting
                     # in 0.10 cluster version)
                     self._api_versions = conn.get_api_versions()
+                self._lock.release()
                 return version
             except Errors.NodeNotReadyError:
                 # Only raise to user if this is a node-specific request
                 if node_id is not None:
+                    self._lock.release()
                     raise
             finally:
                 self._refresh_on_disconnects = True
 
         # Timeout
         else:
+            self._lock.release()
             raise Errors.NoBrokersAvailable()
 
     def wakeup(self):