diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
index 546f7118..494f940d 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
@@ -190,4 +190,11 @@ def _full_config_from_args(args: Namespace) -> ThingServerConfig:
         )
 
     patched_config = load_patched_config(args.config)
+    if "enable_global_lock" not in patched_config:
+        patched_config["enable_global_lock"] = True
+    if patched_config["enable_global_lock"] is not True:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "OpenFlexure Microscope Server requires `enable_global_lock` to be `true`, "
+            "and it was set to another value in the configuration file."
+        )
     return ThingServerConfig(**patched_config)
diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/smart_scan.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/smart_scan.py
index 25b0a60b..3f2c6dfb 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/smart_scan.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/smart_scan.py
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ class SmartScanThing(OFMThing):
             raise HTTPException(404, "File not found")
         return FileResponse(preview_path)
 
-    @lt.action
+    @lt.action(use_global_lock=False)
     def stitch_scan(self, scan_name: str) -> None:
         """Generate a stitched image based on stage position metadata."""
         scan_data = self._scan_dir_manager.get_scan_data(scan_name)
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ class SmartScanThing(OFMThing):
         except SubprocessError as e:
             self.logger.error(f"Stitching failed: {e}", exc_info=e)
 
-    @lt.action
+    @lt.action(use_global_lock=False)
     def download_zip(
         self,
         scan_name: str,
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ class SmartScanThing(OFMThing):
         zip_fname = self._scan_dir_manager.zip_scan(scan_name, final_version=True)
         return ZipBlob.from_file(zip_fname)
 
-    @lt.action
+    @lt.action(use_global_lock=False)
     def stitch_all_scans(self) -> None:
         """Check the list of scans, and stitch any that don't have a DZI associated with it.
 
diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/stage/__init__.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/stage/__init__.py
index e5b0b72b..a42190c6 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/stage/__init__.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/stage/__init__.py
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ class BaseStage(lt.Thing):
             "StageThings must define their own _estimate_move_duration method"
         )
 
-    @lt.action
+    @lt.action(use_global_lock=False)
     def jog(self, stop: bool = False, **kwargs: int) -> None:
         """Make a relative move that may be interrupted by a future ``jog``.
 
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ class BaseStage(lt.Thing):
         command: Optional[JogCommand] = first_command
 
         # prevent others using the stage while jogging.
-        with self._hardware_lock:
+        with self._thing_server_interface.hold_global_lock(), self._hardware_lock:
             while command is not None:
                 if command.displacement is not None:
                     self._hardware_start_move_relative(command.displacement)