diff --git a/src/as/asDbLib.c b/src/as/asDbLib.c
index b6561e11e..7090c8ddf 100644
--- a/src/as/asDbLib.c
+++ b/src/as/asDbLib.c
@@ -111,26 +111,35 @@ static void asSpcAsCallback(struct dbCommon *precord)
 {
     asChangeGroup((ASMEMBERPVT *)&precord->asp,precord->asg);
 }
+
+static void asInitCommonOnce(void *arg)
+{
+    int *firstTime = (int *)arg;
+    *firstTime = FALSE;
+}
     
 static long asInitCommon(void)
 {
     long	status;
     int		asWasActive = asActive;
+    int		wasFirstTime = firstTime;
+    static threadOnceId asInitCommonOnceFlag = OSITHREAD_ONCE_INIT;
 
-    if(firstTime) {
-	firstTime = FALSE;
-	if(!pacf) return(0); /*access security will NEVER be turned on*/
+    
+    threadOnce(&asInitCommonOnceFlag,asInitCommonOnce,(void *)&firstTime);
+    if(wasFirstTime) {
+        if(!pacf) return(0); /*access security will NEVER be turned on*/
     } else {
-	if(!asActive) {
+        if(!asActive) {
             printf("Access security is NOT enabled."
                    " Was asSetFilename specified before iocInit?\n");
             return(S_asLib_asNotActive);
         }
-	if(pacf) {
-	    asCaStop();
-	} else { /*Just leave everything as is */
-	    return(S_asLib_badConfig);
-	}
+        if(pacf) {
+            asCaStop();
+        } else { /*Just leave everything as is */
+            return(S_asLib_badConfig);
+        }
     }
     status = asInitFile(pacf,psubstitutions);
     if(asActive) {
diff --git a/src/as/asLibRoutines.c b/src/as/asLibRoutines.c
index c8c6aff08..cd4c0e6f7 100644
--- a/src/as/asLibRoutines.c
+++ b/src/as/asLibRoutines.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ of this distribution.
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "dbDefs.h"
+#include "osiThread.h"
 #include "ellLib.h"
 #include "cantProceed.h"
 #include "osiSem.h"
@@ -48,7 +49,6 @@ epicsShareDef ASBASE volatile *pasbase=NULL;
 static ASBASE *pasbasenew=NULL;
 epicsShareDef int   asActive = FALSE;
 
-static int          asLockInit=TRUE;
 static void         *freeListPvt = NULL;
 
 
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ static long asAsgRuleCalc(ASGRULE *pasgrule,char *calc);
      the old memberList is moved from old to new.
      the old structures are freed.
 */
+static void asInitializeOnce(void *arg)
+{
+    asLock  = semMutexMustCreate();
+}
 long epicsShareAPI asInitialize(ASINPUTFUNCPTR inputfunction)
 {
     ASG		*pasg;
@@ -95,11 +99,9 @@ long epicsShareAPI asInitialize(ASINPUTFUNCPTR inputfunction)
     UAGNAME	*puagname;
     HAG		*phag;
     HAGNAME	*phagname;
+    static threadOnceId asInitializeOnceFlag = OSITHREAD_ONCE_INIT;
 
-    if(asLockInit) {
-	asLock  = semMutexMustCreate();
-	asLockInit = FALSE;
-    }
+    threadOnce(&asInitializeOnceFlag,asInitializeOnce,(void *)0);
     LOCK;
     pasbasenew = asCalloc(1,sizeof(ASBASE));
     if(!freeListPvt) freeListInitPvt(&freeListPvt,sizeof(ASGCLIENT),20);