diff --git a/pagure/hooks/files/default_hook.py b/pagure/hooks/files/default_hook.py
index ef000b2..6d563f1 100755
--- a/pagure/hooks/files/default_hook.py
+++ b/pagure/hooks/files/default_hook.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ def run_as_post_receive_hook():
         print('namespace:', namespace)
 
     project = pagure.lib._get_project(
-        pagure.SESSION, repo, user=username, namespace=namespace)
+        pagure.SESSION, repo, user=username, namespace=namespace,
+        with_lock=True)
 
     for line in sys.stdin:
         if pagure.APP.config.get('HOOK_DEBUG', False):
@@ -102,6 +103,8 @@ def run_as_post_receive_hook():
         print('An error occured while running the default hook, please '
               'report it to an admin.')
 
+    pagure.SESSION.remove()
+
 
 def main(args):
     run_as_post_receive_hook()