diff --git a/src/MEDS_transforms/mapreduce/utils.py b/src/MEDS_transforms/mapreduce/utils.py
index 70af370..b2598b6 100644
--- a/src/MEDS_transforms/mapreduce/utils.py
+++ b/src/MEDS_transforms/mapreduce/utils.py
@@ -129,6 +129,20 @@ def rwlock_wrap(
         polars.exceptions.ColumnNotFoundError: unable to find column "d"; valid columns: ["a", "b", "c"]
         ...
         >>> assert not out_fp.is_file() # Out file should not be created when the process crashes
+
+    If the lock file already exists, the function will not do anything
+        >>> def compute_fn(df: pl.DataFrame) -> pl.DataFrame:
+        ...     return df.with_columns(pl.col("c") * 2).filter(pl.col("c") > 4)
+        >>> out_fp = root / "output.csv"
+        >>> lock_fp = root / "output.csv.lock"
+        >>> with FileLock(str(lock_fp)):
+        ...     result_computed = rwlock_wrap(in_fp, out_fp, read_fn, write_fn, compute_fn)
+        ...     assert not result_computed
+
+    The lock file will be removed after successful processing.
+        >>> result_computed = rwlock_wrap(in_fp, out_fp, read_fn, write_fn, compute_fn)
+        >>> assert result_computed
+        >>> assert not lock_fp.exists()
     """
 
     if out_fp_checker(out_fp):
@@ -139,8 +153,8 @@ def rwlock_wrap(
             logger.info(f"{out_fp} exists; returning.")
             return False
 
-    lock_fp = str(out_fp) + ".lock"
-    lock = FileLock(lock_fp)
+    lock_fp = out_fp.with_suffix(f"{out_fp.suffix}.lock")
+    lock = FileLock(str(lock_fp))
     try:
         lock.acquire(timeout=0)
     except Timeout:
@@ -159,6 +173,7 @@ def rwlock_wrap(
         return True
     finally:
         lock.release()
+        lock_fp.unlink()
 
 
 def shuffle_shards(shards: list[str], cfg: DictConfig) -> list[str]: