diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/database.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/database.go
index f226ed752..34d5e1b91 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/database.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/database.go
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ type DistroDB struct {
 	ctx       context.Context
 	cancelCtx func()
 	once      sync.Once
+
+	// Multiple distros starting at the same time can cause WSL (and the whole machine) to freeze up.
+	// This mutex is used to block multiple distros from starting at the same time.
+	distroStartMu sync.Mutex
 }
 
 // New creates a database and populates it with data in the file located
@@ -147,7 +151,7 @@ func (db *DistroDB) GetDistroAndUpdateProperties(ctx context.Context, name strin
 	if !found {
 		log.Debugf(ctx, "Cache miss, creating %q and adding it to the database", name)
 
-		d, err := distro.New(db.ctx, name, props, db.storageDir, distro.WithProvisioning(db.provisioning))
+		d, err := distro.New(db.ctx, name, props, db.storageDir, &db.distroStartMu, distro.WithProvisioning(db.provisioning))
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -165,7 +169,7 @@ func (db *DistroDB) GetDistroAndUpdateProperties(ctx context.Context, name strin
 		go d.Cleanup(ctx)
 		delete(db.distros, normalizedName)
 
-		d, err := distro.New(db.ctx, name, props, db.storageDir, distro.WithProvisioning(db.provisioning))
+		d, err := distro.New(db.ctx, name, props, db.storageDir, &db.distroStartMu, distro.WithProvisioning(db.provisioning))
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -252,7 +256,7 @@ func (db *DistroDB) load(ctx context.Context) error {
 	// Initializing distros into database
 	db.distros = make(map[string]*distro.Distro, len(distros))
 	for _, inert := range distros {
-		d, err := inert.newDistro(ctx, db.storageDir)
+		d, err := inert.newDistro(ctx, db.storageDir, &db.distroStartMu)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warningf(ctx, "Read invalid distro from database: %#+v", inert)
 			continue
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/export_test.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/export_test.go
index 8adb6206e..2c159ed90 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/export_test.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/export_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package database
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/canonical/ubuntu-pro-for-windows/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro"
 )
@@ -9,8 +10,8 @@ import (
 type SerializableDistro = serializableDistro
 
 // NewDistro is a wrapper around newDistro so as to make it accessible to tests.
-func (in SerializableDistro) NewDistro(ctx context.Context, storageDir string) (*distro.Distro, error) {
-	return in.newDistro(ctx, storageDir)
+func (in SerializableDistro) NewDistro(ctx context.Context, storageDir string, startupMu *sync.Mutex) (*distro.Distro, error) {
+	return in.newDistro(ctx, storageDir, startupMu)
 }
 
 // NewSerializableDistro is a wrapper around newSerializableDistro so as to make it accessible to tests.
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro.go
index daa893f97..44e4a9a07 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package database
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/canonical/ubuntu-pro-for-windows/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -20,12 +21,12 @@ type serializableDistro struct {
 
 // newDistro calls distro.New with the name, GUID and properties specified
 // in its inert counterpart.
-func (in serializableDistro) newDistro(ctx context.Context, storageDir string) (*distro.Distro, error) {
+func (in serializableDistro) newDistro(ctx context.Context, storageDir string, startupMu *sync.Mutex) (*distro.Distro, error) {
 	GUID, err := uuid.Parse(in.GUID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return distro.New(ctx, in.Name, in.Properties, storageDir, distro.WithGUID(GUID))
+	return distro.New(ctx, in.Name, in.Properties, storageDir, startupMu, distro.WithGUID(GUID))
 }
 
 // newSerializableDistro takes the information in distro.Distro relevant to the database
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro_test.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro_test.go
index 71c14d202..03440845b 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro_test.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/database/serializable_distro_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package database_test
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/canonical/ubuntu-pro-for-windows/common/wsltestutils"
@@ -109,7 +110,10 @@ func TestSerializableDistroNewDistro(t *testing.T) {
 				GUID: tc.guid,
 			}
 
-			d, err := s.NewDistro(ctx, t.TempDir())
+			// This distro is never started, so no need for any global mutex
+			var mu sync.Mutex
+
+			d, err := s.NewDistro(ctx, t.TempDir(), &mu)
 			if err == nil {
 				defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 			}
@@ -140,7 +144,10 @@ func TestNewSerializableDistro(t *testing.T) {
 		Hostname:    "NegativeMachine",
 	}
 
-	d, err := distro.New(ctx, registeredDistro, props, t.TempDir())
+	// This distro is never started, so no need for any global mutex
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+
+	d, err := distro.New(ctx, registeredDistro, props, t.TempDir(), &mu)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New() should return no error")
 
 	s := database.NewSerializableDistro(d)
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro.go
index 177da3ba8..73a95ca03 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package distro
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ func WithProvisioning(c worker.Provisioning) Option {
 //
 //   - To avoid the latter check, you can pass a default-constructed identity.GUID. In that
 //     case, the distro will be created with its currently registered GUID.
-func New(ctx context.Context, name string, props Properties, storageDir string, args ...Option) (distro *Distro, err error) {
+func New(ctx context.Context, name string, props Properties, storageDir string, startupMu *sync.Mutex, args ...Option) (distro *Distro, err error) {
 	decorate.OnError(&err, "could not initialize distro %q", name)
 
 	var nilGUID uuid.UUID
@@ -129,11 +130,16 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, name string, props Properties, storageDir string,
 		}
 	}
 
+	if startupMu == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("startup mutex must not be nil")
+	}
+
 	distro = &Distro{
 		identity:   id,
 		properties: props,
 		stateManager: &stateManager{
 			distroIdentity: id,
+			startupMu:      startupMu,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_state.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_state.go
index 83d782ca0..84660a30f 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_state.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_state.go
@@ -16,11 +16,18 @@ import (
 // The distro is guaranteed to be running so long as the counter is above 0. This counter can
 // be increased or decreased on demand, and is thread-safe.
 type stateManager struct {
+	distroIdentity identity
+
 	refcount uint32
 	cancel   func()
-	mu       sync.Mutex
 
-	distroIdentity identity
+	// mu is a mutex for the refcount and the cancel func. We cannot use an atomic because increasing
+	// or decreasing the count entails more operations than simply adding one to this number.
+	mu sync.Mutex
+
+	// startupMu protects against multiple distros starting at the same time. This could cause WSL
+	// (and the whole machine) to freeze up.
+	startupMu *sync.Mutex
 }
 
 // state returns the state of the WSL distro, as implemeted by GoWSL.
@@ -111,6 +118,9 @@ func (m *stateManager) reset() {
 //
 // The distro will be running by the time keepAwake returns.
 func (m *stateManager) keepAwake(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
+	m.startupMu.Lock()
+	defer m.startupMu.Unlock()
+
 	// Wake up distro
 	if err := touchdistro.Touch(ctx, m.distroIdentity.Name); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not wake distro up: %v", err)
diff --git a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_test.go b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_test.go
index 7fd6db76a..20895016b 100644
--- a/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_test.go
+++ b/windows-agent/internal/distros/distro/distro_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -28,6 +29,25 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	defer os.Exit(exit)
 }
 
+// globalStartupMu protects against multiple distros starting at the same time.
+var globalStartupMu sync.Mutex
+
+// startupMutex exists so that all distro tests share the same startup mutex.
+// This mutex prevents multiple distros from starting at the same time, which
+// could freeze the machine.
+//
+// When a mock WSL is used, this concern does not exist so we provide a new
+// mutex for every test so they can run in parallel without interference.
+func startupMutex() *sync.Mutex {
+	if wsl.MockAvailable() {
+		// No real distros: use a different mutex every test
+		return &sync.Mutex{}
+	}
+
+	// Real distros: use a the same mutex for all tests
+	return &globalStartupMu
+}
+
 func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	if wsl.MockAvailable() {
@@ -52,6 +72,7 @@ func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 		withGUID               string
 		preventWorkDirCreation bool
 		withProvisioning       bool
+		nilMutex               bool
 
 		wantErr     bool
 		wantErrType error
@@ -67,6 +88,7 @@ func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 		"Error when the distro is not registered":                       {distro: nonRegisteredDistro, wantErr: true, wantErrType: &distro.NotValidError{}},
 		"Error when the distro is not registered, but the GUID is":      {distro: nonRegisteredDistro, withGUID: registeredGUID, wantErr: true, wantErrType: &distro.NotValidError{}},
 		"Error when neither the distro nor the GUID are registered":     {distro: nonRegisteredDistro, withGUID: fakeGUID, wantErr: true, wantErrType: &distro.NotValidError{}},
+		"Error when the startup mutex is nil":                           {distro: registeredDistro, nilMutex: true, wantErr: true},
 	}
 
 	for name, tc := range testCases {
@@ -93,7 +115,12 @@ func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: could not write file to interfere with distro's MkDir")
 			}
 
-			d, err = distro.New(ctx, tc.distro, props, workDir, args...)
+			mu := startupMutex()
+			if tc.nilMutex {
+				mu = nil
+			}
+
+			d, err = distro.New(ctx, tc.distro, props, workDir, mu, args...)
 			defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 
 			if tc.wantErr {
@@ -123,7 +150,8 @@ func TestString(t *testing.T) {
 
 	GUID, err := uuid.Parse(guid)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: could not parse guid %s: %v", GUID, err)
-	d, err := distro.New(ctx, name, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), distro.WithGUID(GUID))
+
+	d, err := distro.New(ctx, name, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex(), distro.WithGUID(GUID))
 	defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: unexpected error in distro.New")
@@ -163,7 +191,7 @@ func TestIsValid(t *testing.T) {
 		tc := tc
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// Create an always valid distro
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distro1, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir())
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distro1, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex())
 			defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New() should return no errors")
@@ -219,7 +247,7 @@ func TestSetProperties(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			dname, _ := wsltestutils.RegisterDistro(t, ctx, false)
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, dname, props1, t.TempDir())
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, dname, props1, t.TempDir(), startupMutex())
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no errors")
 
 			p := props2
@@ -295,7 +323,7 @@ func TestLockReleaseAwake(t *testing.T) {
 
 			distroName, _ := wsltestutils.RegisterDistro(t, ctx, true)
 
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir())
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex())
 			defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no error")
@@ -404,6 +432,57 @@ func TestLockReleaseAwake(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNoSimultaneousStartups(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	if !wsl.MockAvailable() {
+		t.Skip("Skipped without mocks to avoid messing with the global mutex")
+	}
+
+	ctx := wsl.WithMock(context.Background(), wslmock.New())
+	var startupMu sync.Mutex
+
+	distroName, _ := wsltestutils.RegisterDistro(t, ctx, true)
+	d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), &startupMu)
+	defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no error")
+
+	wsltestutils.TerminateDistro(t, ctx, distroName)
+
+	// Lock the startup mutex to pretend some other distro is starting up
+	const lockAwakeMaxTime = 20 * time.Second
+	ch := make(chan error)
+
+	func() {
+		startupMu.Lock()
+		defer startupMu.Unlock()
+
+		go func() {
+			// We send the error to be asserted in the main goroutine because
+			// failed assertions outside the test goroutine cause panics.
+			ch <- d.LockAwake()
+			close(ch)
+		}()
+
+		time.Sleep(lockAwakeMaxTime)
+		state := wsltestutils.DistroState(t, ctx, distroName)
+		require.Equal(t, "Stopped", state, "Distro should not start while the mutex is locked")
+	}()
+
+	// The startup mutex has been released to pretend some other distro finished starting up
+
+	select {
+	case <-time.After(lockAwakeMaxTime):
+		require.Fail(t, "LockAwake should have returned after releasing the startup mutex")
+	case err := <-ch:
+		require.NoError(t, err, "LockAwake should return no error")
+		break
+	}
+
+	state := wsltestutils.DistroState(t, ctx, distroName)
+	require.Equal(t, "Running", state, "Distro should start after the mutex is released")
+}
+
 func TestState(t *testing.T) {
 	if wsl.MockAvailable() {
 		t.Parallel()
@@ -437,7 +516,7 @@ func TestState(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			distroName, _ := wsltestutils.RegisterDistro(t, ctx, true)
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir())
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex())
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no errors")
 
 			gowslDistro := wsl.NewDistro(ctx, distroName)
@@ -502,6 +581,7 @@ func TestWorkerConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 				distroName,
 				distro.Properties{},
 				workDir,
+				startupMutex(),
 				distro.WithTaskProcessingContext(ctx),
 				distro.WithProvisioning(provisioning),
 				withMockWorker)
@@ -533,7 +613,7 @@ func TestInvalidateIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
 
 	inj, w := mockWorkerInjector(false)
 
-	d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), inj)
+	d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), &globalStartupMu, inj)
 	defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no error")
 
@@ -598,7 +678,7 @@ func TestWorkerWrappers(t *testing.T) {
 
 			inj, w := mockWorkerInjector(false)
 
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), inj)
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, distroName, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex(), inj)
 			defer d.Cleanup(context.Background())
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no error")
 
@@ -690,7 +770,7 @@ func TestUninstall(t *testing.T) {
 
 			name, _ := wsltestutils.RegisterDistro(t, ctx, false)
 
-			d, err := distro.New(ctx, name, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir())
+			d, err := distro.New(ctx, name, distro.Properties{}, t.TempDir(), startupMutex())
 			require.NoError(t, err, "Setup: distro New should return no errors")
 
 			if tc.unregisterDistro {