diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
index eec8035957..6066905943 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
@@ -929,8 +929,10 @@ void Rig::updateAnimations(float deltaTime, glm::mat4 rootTransform) {
     buildAbsoluteRigPoses(_internalPoseSet._relativePoses, _internalPoseSet._absolutePoses);
 
     // copy internal poses to external poses
-    QWriteLocker writeLock(&_externalPoseSetLock);
-    _externalPoseSet = _internalPoseSet;
+    {
+        QWriteLocker writeLock(&_externalPoseSetLock);
+        _externalPoseSet = _internalPoseSet;
+    }
 }
 
 void Rig::inverseKinematics(int endIndex, glm::vec3 targetPosition, const glm::quat& targetRotation, float priority,