diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.c
index c019d5756..bf31a2726 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.c
@@ -1152,6 +1152,26 @@ err_destroy:
 	return ret;
 }
 
+VkResult
+vk_init_mutex(struct vk_bundle *vk)
+{
+	if (os_mutex_init(&vk->cmd_pool_mutex) < 0) {
+		return VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED;
+	}
+	if (os_mutex_init(&vk->queue_mutex) < 0) {
+		return VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED;
+	}
+	return VK_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+VkResult
+vk_deinit_mutex(struct vk_bundle *vk)
+{
+	os_mutex_destroy(&vk->cmd_pool_mutex);
+	os_mutex_destroy(&vk->queue_mutex);
+	return VK_SUCCESS;
+}
+
 VkResult
 vk_init_from_given(struct vk_bundle *vk,
                    PFN_vkGetInstanceProcAddr vkGetInstanceProcAddr,
diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.h b/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.h
index 52836dddc..38d3c394c 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.h
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/vk/vk_helpers.h
@@ -331,6 +331,23 @@ vk_get_loader_functions(struct vk_bundle *vk, PFN_vkGetInstanceProcAddr g);
 VkResult
 vk_get_instance_functions(struct vk_bundle *vk);
 
+/*!
+ * @brief Initialize mutexes in the @ref vk_bundle.
+ *
+ * Not required for all uses, but a precondition for some.
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_vk
+ */
+VkResult
+vk_init_mutex(struct vk_bundle *vk);
+
+/*!
+ * @brief De-initialize mutexes in the @ref vk_bundle.
+ * @ingroup aux_vk
+ */
+VkResult
+vk_deinit_mutex(struct vk_bundle *vk);
+
 /*!
  * @ingroup aux_vk
  */
@@ -464,12 +481,14 @@ vk_create_view_swizzle(struct vk_bundle *vk,
                        VkImageView *out_view);
 
 /*!
+ * @pre Requires successful call to vk_init_mutex
  * @ingroup aux_vk
  */
 VkResult
 vk_init_cmd_buffer(struct vk_bundle *vk, VkCommandBuffer *out_cmd_buffer);
 
 /*!
+ * @pre Requires successful call to vk_init_mutex
  * @ingroup aux_vk
  */
 VkResult
@@ -483,6 +502,7 @@ vk_set_image_layout(struct vk_bundle *vk,
                     VkImageSubresourceRange subresource_range);
 
 /*!
+ * @pre Requires successful call to vk_init_mutex
  * @ingroup aux_vk
  */
 VkResult
@@ -531,6 +551,10 @@ vk_buffer_destroy(struct vk_buffer *self, struct vk_bundle *vk);
 bool
 vk_update_buffer(struct vk_bundle *vk, float *buffer, size_t buffer_size, VkDeviceMemory memory);
 
+/*!
+ * @pre Requires successful call to vk_init_mutex
+ * @ingroup aux_vk
+ */
 VkResult
 vk_locked_submit(struct vk_bundle *vk, VkQueue queue, uint32_t count, const VkSubmitInfo *infos, VkFence fence);