diff --git a/hnswlib/hnswalg.h b/hnswlib/hnswalg.h
index 2aff4d48..a97a6540 100644
--- a/hnswlib/hnswalg.h
+++ b/hnswlib/hnswalg.h
@@ -1099,6 +1099,8 @@ class HierarchicalNSW : public AlgorithmInterface<dist_t> {
             label_lookup_[label] = cur_c;
         }
 
+        std::unique_lock <std::mutex> templock(global);
+
         std::unique_lock <std::mutex> lock_el(link_list_locks_[cur_c]);
         int curlevel = getRandomLevel(mult_);
         if (level > 0)
@@ -1106,7 +1108,6 @@ class HierarchicalNSW : public AlgorithmInterface<dist_t> {
 
         element_levels_[cur_c] = curlevel;
 
-        std::unique_lock <std::mutex> templock(global);
         int maxlevelcopy = maxlevel_;
         if (curlevel <= maxlevelcopy)
             templock.unlock();