diff --git a/api/firewall_manager.py b/api/firewall_manager.py
index 37b4e7b..c7b94fc 100644
--- a/api/firewall_manager.py
+++ b/api/firewall_manager.py
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@ import os
 import subprocess
 import logging
 import re
+import threading
 from typing import Dict, List, Any, Optional
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+_forward_stateful_lock = threading.Lock()
+
 # Virtual IPs assigned to Caddy per service — must match Caddyfile listeners.
 # Populated at import time from the default subnet; call update_service_ips()
 # whenever ip_range changes so all downstream callers see the new values.
@@ -459,19 +462,20 @@ def ensure_forward_stateful() -> bool:
     which pushes this rule down every time wg0 restarts — causing ICMP to hit the
     per-peer DROP rule before reaching the stateful ACCEPT.
     """
-    try:
-        # Remove all existing instances so we can re-anchor at position 1.
-        # PostUp -I FORWARD rules drift this rule down on every wg0 restart.
-        while _wg_exec(['iptables', '-D', 'FORWARD', '-m', 'state',
-                        '--state', 'ESTABLISHED,RELATED', '-j', 'ACCEPT']).returncode == 0:
-            pass
-        _wg_exec(['iptables', '-I', 'FORWARD', '1', '-m', 'state',
-                  '--state', 'ESTABLISHED,RELATED', '-j', 'ACCEPT'])
-        logger.info('ensure_forward_stateful: ESTABLISHED,RELATED anchored at FORWARD position 1')
-        return True
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.error(f'ensure_forward_stateful: {e}')
-        return False
+    with _forward_stateful_lock:
+        try:
+            # Remove all existing instances so we can re-anchor at position 1.
+            # PostUp -I FORWARD rules drift this rule down on every wg0 restart.
+            while _wg_exec(['iptables', '-D', 'FORWARD', '-m', 'state',
+                            '--state', 'ESTABLISHED,RELATED', '-j', 'ACCEPT']).returncode == 0:
+                pass
+            _wg_exec(['iptables', '-I', 'FORWARD', '1', '-m', 'state',
+                      '--state', 'ESTABLISHED,RELATED', '-j', 'ACCEPT'])
+            logger.info('ensure_forward_stateful: ESTABLISHED,RELATED anchored at FORWARD position 1')
+            return True
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f'ensure_forward_stateful: {e}')
+            return False
 
 
 def ensure_cell_api_dnat() -> bool: