diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 4779f9756b..37747ab9a1 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package catalyst
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/syncx"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/version"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/miner"
@@ -151,8 +153,8 @@ type ConsensusAPI struct {
 	lastNewPayloadUpdate time.Time
 	lastNewPayloadLock   sync.Mutex
 
-	forkchoiceLock sync.Mutex // Lock for the forkChoiceUpdated method
-	newPayloadLock sync.Mutex // Lock for the NewPayload method
+	forkchoiceLock sync.Mutex          // Lock for the forkChoiceUpdated method
+	newPayloadLock syncx.ClosableMutex // Lock for the NewPayload method
 }
 
 // NewConsensusAPI creates a new consensus api for the given backend.
@@ -832,7 +834,11 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) newPayload(params engine.ExecutableData, versionedHashe
 	//    sequentially.
 	// Hence, we use a lock here, to be sure that the previous call has finished before we
 	// check whether we already have the block locally.
-	api.newPayloadLock.Lock()
+	ctx, _ := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
+	if !api.newPayloadLock.TryLockWithContext(ctx) {
+		// Lock not acquired.
+		return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.SYNCING}, engine.GenericServerError
+	}
 	defer api.newPayloadLock.Unlock()
 
 	log.Trace("Engine API request received", "method", "NewPayload", "number", params.Number, "hash", params.BlockHash)
diff --git a/internal/syncx/mutex.go b/internal/syncx/mutex.go
index 96a21986c6..5c6b63f132 100644
--- a/internal/syncx/mutex.go
+++ b/internal/syncx/mutex.go
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 // Package syncx contains exotic synchronization primitives.
 package syncx
 
+import "context"
+
 // ClosableMutex is a mutex that can also be closed.
 // Once closed, it can never be taken again.
 type ClosableMutex struct {
@@ -36,6 +38,18 @@ func (cm *ClosableMutex) TryLock() bool {
 	return ok
 }
 
+// TryLockWithContext attempts to lock tm, but also respecting the context
+// cancelling. This can be used to set a timeout on a locking-attempt.
+// If the mutex is closed, or context cancelled, TryLock returns false.
+func (cm *ClosableMutex) TryLockWithContext(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	select {
+	case _, ok := <-cm.ch:
+		return ok
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 // MustLock locks cm.
 // If the mutex is closed, MustLock panics.
 func (cm *ClosableMutex) MustLock() {