diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/memcached.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/memcached.py
index a34855bafc4..01fbefb07be 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/memcached.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/cache/memcached.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import collections
 import os
 import sys
 import time
-import threading
+from multiprocessing import Lock
 from itertools import chain
 
 from ansible import constants as C
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class ProxyClientPool(object):
         self._num_connections = 0
         self._available_connections = collections.deque(maxlen=self.max_connections)
         self._locked_connections = set()
-        self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._lock = Lock()
 
     def _check_safe(self):
         if self.pid != os.getpid():