diff --git a/lock.inc.php b/lock.inc.php
index 08b2bb4..f95cc5c 100644
--- a/lock.inc.php
+++ b/lock.inc.php
@@ -5,22 +5,45 @@ function gamectl_check_lock()
 {
   global $GAME_ROOT;
 
+  //let's check if are already in a locked environment
   if(getenv("GAMECTL_IN_LOCK"))
     return;
 
-  //don't bother with windows
-  if(DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR != '/')
-    return;
+  $is_nix = DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR === '/';
+
+  $is_process_alive = $is_nix ?  
+    function($pid) : bool
+    {
+      return !empty(trim(exec("lsof -p $pid")));
+    }
+    :
+    function($pid) : bool
+    {
+      $output = shell_exec("tasklist /FI \"PID eq $pid\" 2>NUL");
+      return strpos($output, "$pid") !== false;
+    };
 
   $lock = $GAME_ROOT . '/gamectl.lock';
+  $last_pid = null;
 
   while(file_exists($lock))
   {
-    echo "gamectl is locked. Waiting...\n";
-    $pid = file_get_contents($lock);
-    if(!trim(exec("lsof -p $pid")))
+    $pid = '0';
+    try
     {
-      echo "Seems gamectl process is gone but lock still exists, proceeding..\n";
+      $pid = file_get_contents($lock);
+    }
+    catch(Exception $e) {}
+
+    if($last_pid !== $pid)
+    {
+      echo "gamectl is locked by process ($pid). Waiting...\n";
+      $last_pid = $pid;
+    }
+
+    if(!$is_process_alive($pid))
+    {
+      echo "Seems gamectl process ($pid) is gone but lock still exists, proceeding..\n";
       break;
     }
 
@@ -29,9 +52,10 @@ function gamectl_check_lock()
 
   register_shutdown_function('taskman\\gamectl_unlock');
 
+  //for spawned child processes
   putenv("GAMECTL_IN_LOCK=1");
 
-  file_put_contents($lock, getmypid());
+  file_put_contents($lock, getmypid(), LOCK_EX);
 }
 
 function gamectl_unlock()