diff --git a/kazoo/recipe/lock.py b/kazoo/recipe/lock.py
index c4ecb6cf..c34a8bbf 100644
--- a/kazoo/recipe/lock.py
+++ b/kazoo/recipe/lock.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 """
 
 import sys
+try:
+    from time import monotonic as now
+except ImportError:
+    from time import time as now
 import uuid
 
 import six
@@ -32,6 +36,22 @@
 from kazoo.protocol.states import KazooState
 
 
+class _Watch(object):
+    def __init__(self, duration=None):
+        self.duration = duration
+        self.started_at = None
+
+    def start(self):
+        self.started_at = now()
+
+    def leftover(self):
+        if self.duration is None:
+            return None
+        else:
+            elapsed = now() - self.started_at
+            return max(0, self.duration - elapsed)
+
+
 class Lock(object):
     """Kazoo Lock
 
@@ -448,7 +468,13 @@ def _inner_acquire(self, blocking, timeout=None):
         if self.client.exists(self.create_path):
             return True
 
-        with self.client.Lock(self.lock_path, self.data):
+        w = _Watch(duration=timeout)
+        w.start()
+        lock = self.client.Lock(self.lock_path, self.data)
+        gotten = lock.acquire(blocking=blocking, timeout=w.leftover())
+        if not gotten:
+            return False
+        try:
             while True:
                 self.wake_event.clear()
 
@@ -459,16 +485,15 @@ def _inner_acquire(self, blocking, timeout=None):
                 if blocking:
                     # If blocking, wait until self._watch_lease_change() is
                     # called before returning
-                    self.wake_event.wait(timeout)
+                    self.wake_event.wait(w.leftover())
                     if not self.wake_event.isSet():
                         raise LockTimeout(
                             "Failed to acquire semaphore on %s "
                             "after %s seconds" % (self.path, timeout))
                 else:
-                    # If not blocking, register another watch that will trigger
-                    # self._get_lease() as soon as the children change again.
-                    self.client.get_children(self.path, self._get_lease)
                     return False
+        finally:
+            lock.release()
 
     def _watch_lease_change(self, event):
         self.wake_event.set()