diff --git a/lock/memory.go b/lock/memory.go
index e7e9ef2bf..8c4c449a3 100644
--- a/lock/memory.go
+++ b/lock/memory.go
@@ -139,58 +139,70 @@ type inMemMutex struct {
 }
 
 // Key returns the key to be locked.
-func (l *inMemMutex) Key() string {
-	return l.key
+func (m *inMemMutex) Key() string {
+	return m.key
 }
 
 // Lock acquires the lock. It fails with error if the lock is already held.
-func (l *inMemMutex) Lock(ctx context.Context) error {
-	l.mutex.Lock()
-	defer l.mutex.Unlock()
+func (m *inMemMutex) Lock(ctx context.Context) error {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if l.isHeld {
-		return NewError(LockHeld, l.key, nil)
+	if m.isHeld {
+		return NewError(LockHeld, m.key, nil)
 	}
 
-	if l.provider.acquire(l.key, l.token, l.expiry) {
-		l.isHeld = true
+	if m.provider.acquire(m.key, m.token, m.expiry) {
+		m.isHeld = true
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	timeout := time.NewTimer(l.waitTime)
+	timeout := time.NewTimer(m.waitTime)
 	defer timeout.Stop()
 
-	delayTimer := time.NewTimer(time.Hour)
-	delayTimer.Stop()
-	defer delayTimer.Stop()
-
-	for i := 1; i <= l.tries; i++ {
-		delayTimer.Reset(l.delayFunc(i))
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return NewError(Context, l.key, ctx.Err())
-		case <-timeout.C:
-			return NewError(CannotLock, l.key, nil)
-		case <-delayTimer.C:
-			if l.provider.acquire(l.key, l.token, l.expiry) {
-				l.isHeld = true
-				return nil
-			}
+	for i := 1; !m.isHeld && i <= m.tries; i++ {
+		if err := m.retry(ctx, i, timeout); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
-	return NewError(MaxRetriesExceeded, l.key, nil)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *inMemMutex) retry(ctx context.Context, attempt int, timeout *time.Timer) error {
+	if m.isHeld {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if attempt == m.tries {
+		return NewError(MaxRetriesExceeded, m.key, nil)
+	}
+
+	delay := time.NewTimer(m.delayFunc(attempt))
+	defer delay.Stop()
+
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return NewError(Context, m.key, ctx.Err())
+	case <-timeout.C:
+		return NewError(CannotLock, m.key, nil)
+	case <-delay.C: // just wait
+	}
+
+	if m.provider.acquire(m.key, m.token, m.expiry) {
+		m.isHeld = true
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Unlock releases the lock. It fails with error if the lock is not currently held.
-func (l *inMemMutex) Unlock(_ context.Context) error {
-	l.mutex.Lock()
-	defer l.mutex.Unlock()
+func (m *inMemMutex) Unlock(_ context.Context) error {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if !l.isHeld || !l.provider.release(l.key, l.token) {
-		return NewError(LockNotHeld, l.key, nil)
+	if !m.isHeld || !m.provider.release(m.key, m.token) {
+		return NewError(LockNotHeld, m.key, nil)
 	}
 
-	l.isHeld = false
+	m.isHeld = false
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/lock/memory_test.go b/lock/memory_test.go
index 9023ea3af..0566ee28f 100644
--- a/lock/memory_test.go
+++ b/lock/memory_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package lock
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ func Test_inMemMutex_Lock(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		if err := mx.Lock(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("error from go routine while locking %s, err: %v", mx.Key(), err)
+			return
 		}
 		mx.Unlock(context.Background())
 	}()
@@ -48,6 +50,54 @@ func Test_inMemMutex_Lock(t *testing.T) {
 	wg.Wait()
 }
 
+func Test_inMemMutex_MaxTries(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := NewInMemory(Config{
+		App:        "gitness",
+		Namespace:  "pullreq",
+		Expiry:     1 * time.Second,
+		Tries:      2,
+		RetryDelay: 300 * time.Millisecond,
+	})
+	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+		mx, err := manager.NewMutex("key1")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("mutex not created, err: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+
+		err = mx.Lock(context.Background())
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("error should be returned while locking %s instead of nil", mx.Key())
+			return
+		}
+		var errLock *Error
+		if !errors.As(err, &errLock) {
+			t.Errorf("expected error lock.Error, got: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+		if errLock.Kind != MaxRetriesExceeded {
+			t.Errorf("expected lock.MaxRetriesExceeded, got: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+
+	mx, err := manager.NewMutex("key1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("mutex not created, err: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := mx.Lock(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error while locking %v, err: %v", mx.Key(), err)
+	}
+	time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+	mx.Unlock(context.Background())
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
 func Test_inMemMutex_LockAndWait(t *testing.T) {
 	wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
 	manager := NewInMemory(Config{