diff --git a/doc/manpages/account-server.conf.5 b/doc/manpages/account-server.conf.5
index b9db0d68e6..3b90246cc3 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/account-server.conf.5
+++ b/doc/manpages/account-server.conf.5
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
 .IP "\fB set log_requests\fR 
 Enables request logging. The default is True.
+.IP "\fB set log_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .RE
 .PD
 
@@ -148,7 +150,9 @@ Label used when logging. The default is account-replicator.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
-.IP \fBvm_test_mode\fR 
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
+.IP \fBvm_test_mode\fR
 Indicates that you are using a VM environment. The default is no.
 .IP \fBper_diff\fR 
 The default is 1000.
@@ -187,6 +191,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is account-auditor.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
 Will audit, at most, 1 account per device per interval. The default is 1800 seconds. 
 .RE
@@ -203,6 +209,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is account-reaper.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBconcurrency\fR 
 Number of reaper workers to spawn. The default is 25. 
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
@@ -216,7 +224,7 @@ Connection timeout to external services. The default is 0.5 seconds.
 
 
 
- 
+ 
 .SH DOCUMENTATION
 .LP
 More in depth documentation about the swift-account-server and
diff --git a/doc/manpages/container-server.conf.5 b/doc/manpages/container-server.conf.5
index a1990b9ca4..5aef25b7d1 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/container-server.conf.5
+++ b/doc/manpages/container-server.conf.5
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is swift.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .RE
 .PD
 
@@ -112,6 +114,8 @@ Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
 .IP "\fB set log_requests\fR 
 Enables request logging. The default is True.
+.IP "\fB set log_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBnode_timeout\fR 
 Request timeout to external services. The default is 3 seconds. 
 .IP \fBconn_timeout\fR 
@@ -152,6 +156,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is container-replicator.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBvm_test_mode\fR 
 Indicates that you are using a VM environment. The default is no.
 .IP \fBer_diff\fR 
@@ -184,6 +190,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is container-updater.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
 Minimum time for a pass to take. The default is 300 seconds. 
 .IP \fBconcurrency\fR 
@@ -210,6 +218,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is container-auditor.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
 Will audit, at most, 1 container per device per interval. The default is 1800 seconds. 
 .RE
@@ -226,6 +236,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is container-sync.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBsync_proxy\fR
 If you need to use an HTTP Proxy, set it here; defaults to no proxy.
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
diff --git a/doc/manpages/object-expirer.conf.5 b/doc/manpages/object-expirer.conf.5
index 3dd74eb0c0..8de307ee22 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/object-expirer.conf.5
+++ b/doc/manpages/object-expirer.conf.5
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is swift.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .RE
 .PD
 
diff --git a/doc/manpages/object-server.conf.5 b/doc/manpages/object-server.conf.5
index 82d9c4f466..42b621b491 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/object-server.conf.5
+++ b/doc/manpages/object-server.conf.5
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is swift.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .RE
 .PD
 
@@ -112,7 +114,9 @@ Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
 .IP "\fB set log_requests\fR 
 Enables request logging. The default is True.
-.IP \fBnode_timeout\fR 
+.IP "\fB set log_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
+.IP \fBnode_timeout\fR
 Request timeout to external services. The default is 3 seconds. 
 .IP \fBconn_timeout\fR 
 Connection timeout to external services. The default is 0.5 seconds. 
@@ -165,6 +169,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is object-replicator.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBvm_test_mode\fR 
 Indicates that you are using a VM environment. The default is no.
 .IP \fBdaemonize\fR 
@@ -206,6 +212,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is object-updater.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP \fBinterval\fR 
 Minimum time for a pass to take. The default is 300 seconds. 
 .IP \fBconcurrency\fR 
@@ -230,6 +238,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is object-auditor.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 
 .IP \fBfiles_per_second\fR 
 Maximum files audited per second. Should be tuned according to individual 
@@ -245,7 +255,7 @@ The default is 50.
 
 
 
- 
+ 
 .SH DOCUMENTATION
 .LP
 More in depth documentation about the swift-object-server and
diff --git a/doc/manpages/proxy-server.conf.5 b/doc/manpages/proxy-server.conf.5
index af2f648ea1..3af49c223b 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/proxy-server.conf.5
+++ b/doc/manpages/proxy-server.conf.5
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is swift.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP \fBlog_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP \fBlog_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .RE
 .PD
 
@@ -124,6 +126,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is tempauth.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR "
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP \fBreseller_prefix\fR
@@ -179,6 +183,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is healthcheck.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR "
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .RE
@@ -201,6 +207,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is memcache.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR "
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP \fBmemcache_servers\fR
@@ -225,6 +233,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is ratelimit.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR "
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP \fBclock_accuracy\fR
@@ -267,6 +277,8 @@ Entry point for paste.deploy for the domain_remap middleware. This is the refere
 The default is \fBegg:swift#domain_remap\fR.
 .IP "\fBset log_name\fR"
 Label used when logging. The default is domain_remap.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR"
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP \fBstorage_domain\fR 
@@ -298,6 +310,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is catch_errors.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR "
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR"
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .RE
@@ -320,6 +334,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is cname_lookup.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR"
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR"
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP \fBstorage_domain\fR 
@@ -349,6 +365,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is staticweb.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fBset log_level\fR "
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fBset log_address\fR "
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset log_headers\fR"
 Enables the ability to log request headers. The default is False.
 .IP "\fBset access_log_name\fR"
@@ -431,6 +449,8 @@ Label used when logging. The default is proxy-server.
 Syslog log facility. The default is LOG_LOCAL0.
 .IP "\fB set log_level\fR 
 Logging level. The default is INFO.
+.IP "\fB set log_address\fR
+Logging address. The default is /dev/log.
 .IP "\fBset access_log_name\fR"
 Label used when logging. The default is proxy-server.
 .IP "\fBset access_log_facility\fR"
diff --git a/etc/account-server.conf-sample b/etc/account-server.conf-sample
index a0abb765ea..e06f1b2aaa 100644
--- a/etc/account-server.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/account-server.conf-sample
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # log_name = swift
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # You can enable default statsD logging here and/or override it in sections
 # below:
 # log_statsd_host = localhost
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ use = egg:swift#account
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_requests = True
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # auto_create_account_prefix = .
 
 [filter:recon]
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = account-replicator
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # vm_test_mode = no
 # per_diff = 1000
 # max_diffs = 100
@@ -65,6 +68,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = account-auditor
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # Will audit, at most, 1 account per device per interval
 # interval = 1800
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
@@ -76,6 +80,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = account-reaper
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # concurrency = 25
 # interval = 3600
 # node_timeout = 10
diff --git a/etc/container-server.conf-sample b/etc/container-server.conf-sample
index 6ee91bd455..287085544a 100644
--- a/etc/container-server.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/container-server.conf-sample
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 # log_name = swift
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # You can enable default statsD logging here and/or override it in sections
 # below:
 # log_statsd_host = localhost
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ use = egg:swift#container
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_requests = True
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # node_timeout = 3
 # conn_timeout = 0.5
 # allow_versions = False
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = container-replicator
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # vm_test_mode = no
 # per_diff = 1000
 # max_diffs = 100
@@ -66,6 +69,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = container-updater
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # interval = 300
 # concurrency = 4
 # node_timeout = 3
@@ -81,6 +85,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = container-auditor
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # Will audit, at most, 1 container per device per interval
 # interval = 1800
 # recon_cache_path = /var/cache/swift
@@ -90,6 +95,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = container-sync
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # If you need to use an HTTP Proxy, set it here; defaults to no proxy.
 # sync_proxy = http://127.0.0.1:8888
 # Will sync, at most, each container once per interval
diff --git a/etc/drive-audit.conf-sample b/etc/drive-audit.conf-sample
index 9ffa94760c..98ef4eb1be 100644
--- a/etc/drive-audit.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/drive-audit.conf-sample
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 # device_dir = /srv/node
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # minutes = 60
 # error_limit = 1
diff --git a/etc/object-expirer.conf-sample b/etc/object-expirer.conf-sample
index 5fe9793121..00ef3a63e9 100644
--- a/etc/object-expirer.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/object-expirer.conf-sample
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # log_name = swift
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # You can enable default statsD logging here if you want:
 # log_statsd_host = localhost
 # log_statsd_port = 8125
diff --git a/etc/object-server.conf-sample b/etc/object-server.conf-sample
index f7cc09617f..96ca259275 100644
--- a/etc/object-server.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/object-server.conf-sample
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 # log_name = swift
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # You can enable default statsD logging here and/or override it in sections
 # below:
 # log_statsd_host = localhost
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ use = egg:swift#object
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_requests = True
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # node_timeout = 3
 # conn_timeout = 0.5
 # network_chunk_size = 65536
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = object-replicator
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # vm_test_mode = no
 # daemonize = on
 # run_pause = 30
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = object-updater
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # interval = 300
 # concurrency = 1
 # node_timeout = 10
@@ -94,6 +98,7 @@ use = egg:swift#recon
 # log_name = object-auditor
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # files_per_second = 20
 # bytes_per_second = 10000000
 # log_time = 3600
diff --git a/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample b/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
index 13ee342f33..a8cf050a10 100644
--- a/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # log_name = swift
 # log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # log_level = INFO
+# log_address = /dev/log
 # You can enable default statsD logging here and/or override it in sections
 # below:
 # log_statsd_host = localhost
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # set log_name = proxy-server
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # set access_log_name = proxy-server
 # set access_log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set access_log_level = INFO
@@ -78,6 +80,7 @@ use = egg:swift#tempauth
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # The reseller prefix will verify a token begins with this prefix before even
 # attempting to validate it. Also, with authorization, only Swift storage
 # accounts with this prefix will be authorized by this middleware. Useful if
@@ -122,6 +125,7 @@ use = egg:swift#healthcheck
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 
 [filter:cache]
 use = egg:swift#memcache
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ use = egg:swift#memcache
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # Default for memcache_servers is to try to read the property from
 # memcache.conf (see memcache.conf-sample) or lacking that file, it will
 # default to the value below. You can specify multiple servers separated with
@@ -143,6 +148,7 @@ use = egg:swift#ratelimit
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # clock_accuracy should represent how accurate the proxy servers' system clocks
 # are with each other. 1000 means that all the proxies' clock are accurate to
 # each other within 1 millisecond.  No ratelimit should be higher than the
@@ -175,6 +181,7 @@ use = egg:swift#domain_remap
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # storage_domain = example.com
 # path_root = v1
 # reseller_prefixes = AUTH
@@ -186,6 +193,7 @@ use = egg:swift#catch_errors
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 
 [filter:cname_lookup]
 # Note: this middleware requires python-dnspython
@@ -195,6 +203,7 @@ use = egg:swift#cname_lookup
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
 # set log_headers = False
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # storage_domain = example.com
 # lookup_depth = 1
 
@@ -207,6 +216,7 @@ use = egg:swift#staticweb
 # set log_name = staticweb
 # set log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set log_level = INFO
+# set log_address = /dev/log
 # set access_log_name = staticweb
 # set access_log_facility = LOG_LOCAL0
 # set access_log_level = INFO
diff --git a/swift/common/utils.py b/swift/common/utils.py
index 5c2382e492..a353a5c122 100644
--- a/swift/common/utils.py
+++ b/swift/common/utils.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ except ImportError:
 import cPickle as pickle
 import glob
 from urlparse import urlparse as stdlib_urlparse, ParseResult
+import socket
 
 import eventlet
 from eventlet import GreenPool, sleep, Timeout
@@ -78,6 +79,10 @@ if hash_conf.read('/etc/swift/swift.conf'):
 TRUE_VALUES = set(('true', '1', 'yes', 'on', 't', 'y'))
 
 
+def noop_libc_function(*args):
+    return 0
+
+
 def validate_configuration():
     if HASH_PATH_SUFFIX == '':
         sys.exit("Error: [swift-hash]: swift_hash_path_suffix missing "
@@ -96,9 +101,6 @@ def load_libc_function(func_name):
     except AttributeError:
         logging.warn(_("Unable to locate %s in libc.  Leaving as a no-op."),
                      func_name)
-
-        def noop_libc_function(*args):
-            return 0
         return noop_libc_function
 
 
@@ -118,6 +120,23 @@ def get_param(req, name, default=None):
     return value
 
 
+class FallocateWrapper(object):
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        for func in ('fallocate', 'posix_fallocate'):
+            self.func_name = func
+            self.fallocate = load_libc_function(func)
+            if self.fallocate is not noop_libc_function:
+                break
+
+    def __call__(self, fd, mode, offset, len):
+        args = {
+            'fallocate': (fd, mode, offset, len),
+            'posix_fallocate': (fd, offset, len)
+        }
+        return self.fallocate(*args[self.func_name])
+
+
 def fallocate(fd, size):
     """
     Pre-allocate disk space for a file file.
@@ -127,7 +146,7 @@ def fallocate(fd, size):
     """
     global _sys_fallocate
     if _sys_fallocate is None:
-        _sys_fallocate = load_libc_function('fallocate')
+        _sys_fallocate = FallocateWrapper()
     if size > 0:
         # 1 means "FALLOC_FL_KEEP_SIZE", which means it pre-allocates invisibly
         ret = _sys_fallocate(fd, 1, 0, ctypes.c_uint64(size))
@@ -193,7 +212,7 @@ def renamer(old, new):
     try:
         mkdirs(os.path.dirname(new))
         os.rename(old, new)
-    except OSError:
+    except OSError, err:
         mkdirs(os.path.dirname(new))
         os.rename(old, new)
 
@@ -523,7 +542,13 @@ def get_logger(conf, name=None, log_to_console=False, log_route=None,
     # facility for this logger will be set by last call wins
     facility = getattr(SysLogHandler, conf.get('log_facility', 'LOG_LOCAL0'),
                        SysLogHandler.LOG_LOCAL0)
-    handler = SysLogHandler(address='/dev/log', facility=facility)
+    log_address = conf.get('log_address', '/dev/log')
+    try:
+        handler = SysLogHandler(address=log_address, facility=facility)
+    except socket.error, e:
+        if e.errno != errno.ENOTSOCK:  # Socket operation on non-socket
+            raise e
+        handler = SysLogHandler(facility=facility)
     handler.setFormatter(formatter)
     logger.addHandler(handler)
     get_logger.handler4logger[logger] = handler
@@ -723,13 +748,18 @@ def lock_path(directory, timeout=10):
     the lock can be acquired, or the timeout time has expired (whichever occurs
     first).
 
+    For locking exclusively, file or directory has to be opened in Write mode.
+    Python doesn't allow directories to be opened in Write Mode. So we
+    workaround by locking a hidden file in the directory.
+
     :param directory: directory to be locked
     :param timeout: timeout (in seconds)
     """
     mkdirs(directory)
-    fd = os.open(directory, os.O_RDONLY)
+    lockpath = '%s/.lock' % directory
+    fd = os.open(lockpath, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT)
     try:
-        with LockTimeout(timeout, directory):
+        with LockTimeout(timeout, lockpath):
             while True:
                 try:
                     fcntl.flock(fd, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)