diff --git a/Tools/lock_barrier.cpp b/Tools/lock_barrier.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fb4103a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tools/lock_barrier.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (c) 2013, Project OSRM, Dennis Luxen, others
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list
+of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
+list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
+other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
+ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
+ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+*/
+
+#include "../Util/SimpleLogger.h"
+#include "../Server/DataStructures/SharedBarriers.h"
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+int main() {
+    LogPolicy::GetInstance().Unmute();
+    SharedBarriers barrier;
+    SimpleLogger().Write() << "This (debug) tool simply aquires a lock ...";
+    boost::interprocess::scoped_lock<
+        boost::interprocess::named_mutex
+    > pending_lock(barrier.pending_update_mutex);
+    SimpleLogger().Write() << "pending update lock aquired. Press key to exit.";
+    std::cin.get();
+    return 0;
+}