diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 3e8e290..6b943ae 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -512,6 +512,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "dbus",
  "eframe",
  "freedesktop-desktop-entry",
+ "libc",
  "log",
  "networkmanager",
  "nucleo-matcher",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index 79fa674..11823f0 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ edition.workspace = true
 # general
 settings = { path = "../settings" }
 anyhow = { version = "1.0.100", features = ["backtrace"] }
+libc = "0.2"
 clap = { version = "4.5.21", features = ["derive", "env"] }
 log = { version = "0.4.22", features = ["kv_unstable_serde"] }
 simple_logger = { version = "5.0.0", features = [
diff --git a/client/src/lock.rs b/client/src/lock.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e00d46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/lock.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+use std::env;
+use std::fs::{File, TryLockError};
+use std::io::{Read, Seek, Write};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+
+const LOCK_FILE_NAME: &str = "centerpiece.lock";
+
+pub struct LockFile {
+    _file: File,
+}
+
+impl LockFile {
+    pub fn acquire() -> Option<Self> {
+        let path = lock_file_path()?;
+        let mut file = open_lock_file(&path)?;
+
+        match file.try_lock() {
+            Ok(()) => {
+                write_pid(&mut file);
+                log::info!("Acquired exclusive lock");
+                Some(Self { _file: file })
+            }
+            Err(TryLockError::WouldBlock) => {
+                kill_existing_instance(&mut file);
+                // Blocks until the old process exits and releases the lock
+                file.lock().ok()?;
+                write_pid(&mut file);
+                log::info!("Acquired exclusive lock after killing previous instance");
+                Some(Self { _file: file })
+            }
+            Err(TryLockError::Error(e)) => {
+                log::error!("Failed to acquire lock: {e}");
+                None
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn cleanup() {
+        if let Some(path) = lock_file_path() {
+            let _ = std::fs::remove_file(path);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn lock_file_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    let dir = env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR").ok();
+    if dir.is_none() {
+        log::warn!("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set, running without file lock");
+    }
+    Some(Path::new(&dir?).join(LOCK_FILE_NAME))
+}
+
+fn open_lock_file(path: &Path) -> Option<File> {
+    File::options()
+        .read(true)
+        .write(true)
+        .create(true)
+        .truncate(false)
+        .open(path)
+        .map_err(|e| log::error!("Failed to open lock file: {e}"))
+        .ok()
+}
+
+fn write_pid(file: &mut File) {
+    let _ = file.set_len(0);
+    let _ = file.seek(std::io::SeekFrom::Start(0));
+    let _ = write!(file, "{}", std::process::id());
+    let _ = file.flush();
+}
+
+fn read_pid(file: &mut File) -> Option<u32> {
+    let mut contents = String::new();
+    file.seek(std::io::SeekFrom::Start(0)).ok()?;
+    file.read_to_string(&mut contents).ok()?;
+    contents.trim().parse().ok()
+}
+
+fn kill_existing_instance(file: &mut File) {
+    let Some(pid) = read_pid(file) else {
+        log::warn!("Lock held but no PID in lock file");
+        return;
+    };
+    log::info!("Killing existing instance with PID {pid}");
+    // SAFETY: sending SIGTERM to a known PID
+    unsafe {
+        libc::kill(pid as i32, libc::SIGTERM);
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/client/src/main.rs b/client/src/main.rs
index 11f85c9..f49999e 100644
--- a/client/src/main.rs
+++ b/client/src/main.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-use std::process::exit;
-
 use clap::Parser;
 use eframe::egui::{self, Separator};
 
 mod component;
+mod lock;
 mod model;
 mod plugin;
 
@@ -16,6 +15,8 @@ pub fn main() {
 
     simple_logger::init_with_level(log::Level::Info).unwrap();
 
+    let _lock = lock::LockFile::acquire();
+
     eframe::run_native(
         "centerpiece",
         settings(),
@@ -300,6 +301,11 @@ impl Centerpiece {
         }
     }
 
+    fn exit() -> ! {
+        lock::LockFile::cleanup();
+        std::process::exit(0);
+    }
+
     fn handle_input(&mut self, ctx: &eframe::egui::Context) {
         if ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(eframe::egui::Key::ArrowUp)) {
             self.select_previous_entry();
@@ -311,7 +317,7 @@ impl Centerpiece {
             self.activate_selected_entry();
         }
         if ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(eframe::egui::Key::Escape)) {
-            exit(0);
+            Self::exit();
         }
 
         if ctx.input(|i| i.modifiers.ctrl && i.key_pressed(eframe::egui::Key::J)) {
@@ -337,7 +343,9 @@ impl Centerpiece {
                     self.update_entries(plugin_id, entries)
                 }
 
-                Message::Exit => exit(0),
+                Message::Exit => {
+                    Self::exit();
+                }
             }
         }
     }