diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawDecoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawDecoder.java
index e84574709f7..cb71a80d5f5 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawDecoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawDecoder.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantReadWriteLock;
 
 /**
  * Abstract native raw decoder for all native coders to extend with.
@@ -34,36 +35,46 @@ abstract class AbstractNativeRawDecoder extends RawErasureDecoder {
   public static Logger LOG =
       LoggerFactory.getLogger(AbstractNativeRawDecoder.class);
 
+  // Protect ISA-L coder data structure in native layer from being accessed and
+  // updated concurrently by the init, release and decode functions.
+  protected final ReentrantReadWriteLock decoderLock =
+      new ReentrantReadWriteLock();
+
   public AbstractNativeRawDecoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void doDecode(ByteBufferDecodingState decodingState)
+  protected void doDecode(ByteBufferDecodingState decodingState)
       throws IOException {
-    if (nativeCoder == 0) {
-      throw new IOException(String.format("%s closed",
-          getClass().getSimpleName()));
-    }
-    int[] inputOffsets = new int[decodingState.inputs.length];
-    int[] outputOffsets = new int[decodingState.outputs.length];
-
-    ByteBuffer buffer;
-    for (int i = 0; i < decodingState.inputs.length; ++i) {
-      buffer = decodingState.inputs[i];
-      if (buffer != null) {
-        inputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
+    decoderLock.readLock().lock();
+    try {
+      if (nativeCoder == 0) {
+        throw new IOException(String.format("%s closed",
+            getClass().getSimpleName()));
       }
-    }
+      int[] inputOffsets = new int[decodingState.inputs.length];
+      int[] outputOffsets = new int[decodingState.outputs.length];
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < decodingState.outputs.length; ++i) {
-      buffer = decodingState.outputs[i];
-      outputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
-    }
+      ByteBuffer buffer;
+      for (int i = 0; i < decodingState.inputs.length; ++i) {
+        buffer = decodingState.inputs[i];
+        if (buffer != null) {
+          inputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
+        }
+      }
 
-    performDecodeImpl(decodingState.inputs, inputOffsets,
-        decodingState.decodeLength, decodingState.erasedIndexes,
-        decodingState.outputs, outputOffsets);
+      for (int i = 0; i < decodingState.outputs.length; ++i) {
+        buffer = decodingState.outputs[i];
+        outputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
+      }
+
+      performDecodeImpl(decodingState.inputs, inputOffsets,
+          decodingState.decodeLength, decodingState.erasedIndexes,
+          decodingState.outputs, outputOffsets);
+    } finally {
+      decoderLock.readLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   protected abstract void performDecodeImpl(ByteBuffer[] inputs,
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawEncoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawEncoder.java
index cab53839b34..44d89c2a1c0 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawEncoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/AbstractNativeRawEncoder.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantReadWriteLock;
 
 /**
  * Abstract native raw encoder for all native coders to extend with.
@@ -34,34 +35,44 @@ abstract class AbstractNativeRawEncoder extends RawErasureEncoder {
   public static Logger LOG =
       LoggerFactory.getLogger(AbstractNativeRawEncoder.class);
 
+  // Protect ISA-L coder data structure in native layer from being accessed and
+  // updated concurrently by the init, release and encode functions.
+  protected final ReentrantReadWriteLock encoderLock =
+      new ReentrantReadWriteLock();
+
   public AbstractNativeRawEncoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void doEncode(ByteBufferEncodingState encodingState)
+  protected void doEncode(ByteBufferEncodingState encodingState)
       throws IOException {
-    if (nativeCoder == 0) {
-      throw new IOException(String.format("%s closed",
-          getClass().getSimpleName()));
-    }
-    int[] inputOffsets = new int[encodingState.inputs.length];
-    int[] outputOffsets = new int[encodingState.outputs.length];
-    int dataLen = encodingState.inputs[0].remaining();
+    encoderLock.readLock().lock();
+    try {
+      if (nativeCoder == 0) {
+        throw new IOException(String.format("%s closed",
+            getClass().getSimpleName()));
+      }
+      int[] inputOffsets = new int[encodingState.inputs.length];
+      int[] outputOffsets = new int[encodingState.outputs.length];
+      int dataLen = encodingState.inputs[0].remaining();
 
-    ByteBuffer buffer;
-    for (int i = 0; i < encodingState.inputs.length; ++i) {
-      buffer = encodingState.inputs[i];
-      inputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
-    }
+      ByteBuffer buffer;
+      for (int i = 0; i < encodingState.inputs.length; ++i) {
+        buffer = encodingState.inputs[i];
+        inputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
+      }
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < encodingState.outputs.length; ++i) {
-      buffer = encodingState.outputs[i];
-      outputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
-    }
+      for (int i = 0; i < encodingState.outputs.length; ++i) {
+        buffer = encodingState.outputs[i];
+        outputOffsets[i] = buffer.position();
+      }
 
-    performEncodeImpl(encodingState.inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen,
-        encodingState.outputs, outputOffsets);
+      performEncodeImpl(encodingState.inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen,
+          encodingState.outputs, outputOffsets);
+    } finally {
+      encoderLock.readLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   protected abstract void performEncodeImpl(
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawDecoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawDecoder.java
index 85722223039..dc2c33a6bf6 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawDecoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawDecoder.java
@@ -36,19 +36,30 @@ public class NativeRSRawDecoder extends AbstractNativeRawDecoder {
 
   public NativeRSRawDecoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
-    initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(), coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    decoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(),
+          coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    } finally {
+      decoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void performDecodeImpl(
+  protected void performDecodeImpl(
       ByteBuffer[] inputs, int[] inputOffsets, int dataLen, int[] erased,
       ByteBuffer[] outputs, int[] outputOffsets) throws IOException {
     decodeImpl(inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen, erased, outputs, outputOffsets);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public synchronized void release() {
-    destroyImpl();
+  public void release() {
+    decoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      destroyImpl();
+    } finally {
+      decoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawEncoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawEncoder.java
index 754ec884102..ad06927ffe3 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawEncoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeRSRawEncoder.java
@@ -36,19 +36,30 @@ public class NativeRSRawEncoder extends AbstractNativeRawEncoder {
 
   public NativeRSRawEncoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
-    initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(), coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    encoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(),
+          coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    } finally {
+      encoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void performEncodeImpl(
+  protected void performEncodeImpl(
           ByteBuffer[] inputs, int[] inputOffsets, int dataLen,
           ByteBuffer[] outputs, int[] outputOffsets) throws IOException {
     encodeImpl(inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen, outputs, outputOffsets);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public synchronized void release() {
-    destroyImpl();
+  public void release() {
+    encoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      destroyImpl();
+    } finally {
+      encoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawDecoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawDecoder.java
index 17630424985..dd708eb53e1 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawDecoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawDecoder.java
@@ -36,19 +36,30 @@ public class NativeXORRawDecoder extends AbstractNativeRawDecoder {
 
   public NativeXORRawDecoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
-    initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(), coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    decoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(),
+          coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    } finally {
+      decoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void performDecodeImpl(
+  protected void performDecodeImpl(
       ByteBuffer[] inputs, int[] inputOffsets, int dataLen, int[] erased,
       ByteBuffer[] outputs, int[] outputOffsets) throws IOException {
     decodeImpl(inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen, erased, outputs, outputOffsets);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public synchronized void release() {
-    destroyImpl();
+  public void release() {
+    decoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      destroyImpl();
+    } finally {
+      decoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   private native void initImpl(int numDataUnits, int numParityUnits);
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawEncoder.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawEncoder.java
index 7f4265b2fa5..66b0a1bff7d 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawEncoder.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/NativeXORRawEncoder.java
@@ -36,19 +36,30 @@ public class NativeXORRawEncoder extends AbstractNativeRawEncoder {
 
   public NativeXORRawEncoder(ErasureCoderOptions coderOptions) {
     super(coderOptions);
-    initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(), coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    encoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      initImpl(coderOptions.getNumDataUnits(),
+          coderOptions.getNumParityUnits());
+    } finally {
+      encoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected synchronized void performEncodeImpl(
+  protected void performEncodeImpl(
       ByteBuffer[] inputs, int[] inputOffsets, int dataLen,
       ByteBuffer[] outputs, int[] outputOffsets) throws IOException {
     encodeImpl(inputs, inputOffsets, dataLen, outputs, outputOffsets);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public synchronized void release() {
-    destroyImpl();
+  public void release() {
+    encoderLock.writeLock().lock();
+    try {
+      destroyImpl();
+    } finally {
+      encoderLock.writeLock().unlock();
+    }
   }
 
   private native void initImpl(int numDataUnits, int numParityUnits);
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/RawErasureCoderBenchmark.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/RawErasureCoderBenchmark.java
index c005e77cb3a..df8c54b9cdd 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/RawErasureCoderBenchmark.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/rawcoder/RawErasureCoderBenchmark.java
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ public final class RawErasureCoderBenchmark {
       throw e;
     } finally {
       executor.shutdown();
+      if (encoder != null) {
+        encoder.release();
+      }
+      if (decoder != null) {
+        decoder.release();
+      }
     }
   }