diff --git a/src/hydra-queue-runner/hydra-queue-runner.cc b/src/hydra-queue-runner/hydra-queue-runner.cc
index 3503b8f2..489ec241 100644
--- a/src/hydra-queue-runner/hydra-queue-runner.cc
+++ b/src/hydra-queue-runner/hydra-queue-runner.cc
@@ -1244,6 +1244,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
 
         settings.buildVerbosity = lvlVomit;
         settings.useSubstitutes = false;
+        settings.lockCPU = false;
 
         /* FIXME: need some locking to prevent multiple instances of
            hydra-queue-runner. */