diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.core.runtime/src/org/eclipse/core/internal/runtime/InternalPlatform.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.core.runtime/src/org/eclipse/core/internal/runtime/InternalPlatform.java
index 7b86db8..669934e 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.core.runtime/src/org/eclipse/core/internal/runtime/InternalPlatform.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.core.runtime/src/org/eclipse/core/internal/runtime/InternalPlatform.java
@@ -356,6 +356,11 @@
 		} else {
 			metaArea = new DataArea();
 			metaArea.setInstanceDataLocation(location);
+			try {
+				metaArea.createLockFile();
+			} catch (CoreException e) {
+				throw new IllegalStateException(e.getStatus().getMessage());
+			}
 		}
 		metaArea.setKeyringFile(keyringFile);
 		metaArea.setPasswork(password);