diff --git a/src/lib/kernel/list.c b/src/lib/kernel/list.c
index f8f7fbb..83dc95e 100644
--- a/src/lib/kernel/list.c
+++ b/src/lib/kernel/list.c
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ list_insert (struct list_elem *before, struct list_elem *elem)
 {
   ASSERT (is_interior (before) || is_tail (before));
   ASSERT (elem != NULL);
+ 
   // Sanity checks to prevent (some) loop lists
   ASSERT (before != elem);
   ASSERT (before->prev != elem);
diff --git a/src/tests/filesys/base/syn-write.c b/src/tests/filesys/base/syn-write.c
index 1439862..26733c6 100644
--- a/src/tests/filesys/base/syn-write.c
+++ b/src/tests/filesys/base/syn-write.c
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ test_main (void)
   int fd;
 
   CHECK (create (file_name, sizeof buf1), "create \"%s\"", file_name);
-
   exec_children ("child-syn-wrt", children, CHILD_CNT);
   wait_children (children, CHILD_CNT);
 
diff --git a/src/userprog/process.c b/src/userprog/process.c
index 3d12bd1..cecedc1 100644
--- a/src/userprog/process.c
+++ b/src/userprog/process.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include "userprog/gdt.h"
 #include "userprog/pagedir.h"
+#include "userprog/syscall.h"
 #include "userprog/tss.h"
 #include "filesys/directory.h"
 #include "filesys/file.h"
@@ -81,6 +82,12 @@ process_execute (const char *cmd)
      of the process. */
   char *file_name = strtok_r (cmd_copy, " ", &data->cmd_saveptr);
 
+/* NOTE: Currently, the file being executed is closed in load () and then 
+          reopened here. Because load is an exported public function, this
+          might be necessary. */
+struct file *exec_file = filesys_open (file_name);
+file_deny_write (exec_file);
+
 /* Validates that the current file to be executed is a valid file */
 if (filesys_open (file_name) == NULL)
     return TID_ERROR;
@@ -120,7 +127,10 @@ start_process (void *proc_start_data)
   if_.gs = if_.fs = if_.es = if_.ds = if_.ss = SEL_UDSEG;
   if_.cs = SEL_UCSEG;
   if_.eflags = FLAG_IF | FLAG_MBS;
+
+  lock_acquire (&filesys_lock);
   success = load (data->file_name, &if_.eip, &if_.esp);
+  lock_release (&filesys_lock);
 
   /* If load failed, quit. */
   if (!success) 
@@ -141,13 +151,6 @@ start_process (void *proc_start_data)
       goto fail;
     }
 
-  /* NOTE: Currently, the file being executed is closed in load () and then 
-           reopened here. Because load is an exported public function, this
-           might be necessary. */
-  struct file *exec_file = filesys_open (data->file_name);
-  thread_current ()->exec_file = exec_file;
-  file_deny_write (exec_file);
-
   /* Start the user process by simulating a return from an
      interrupt, implemented by intr_exit (in
      threads/intr-stubs.S).  Because intr_exit takes all of its
diff --git a/src/userprog/syscall.c b/src/userprog/syscall.c
index ccb02f3..1192f46 100644
--- a/src/userprog/syscall.c
+++ b/src/userprog/syscall.c
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <syscall-nr.h>
 
-static struct lock filesys_lock;
 static unsigned fd_counter = MIN_USER_FD;
 
 struct open_file
diff --git a/src/userprog/syscall.h b/src/userprog/syscall.h
index 0f9288b..16af00c 100644
--- a/src/userprog/syscall.h
+++ b/src/userprog/syscall.h
@@ -2,11 +2,14 @@
 #define USERPROG_SYSCALL_H
 
 #include <hash.h>
+#include "threads/synch.h"
 
 #define MIN_USER_FD 2
 
 typedef int pid_t;
 
+struct lock filesys_lock;
+
 void syscall_init (void);
 
 unsigned fd_hash (const struct hash_elem *element, void *aux);