diff --git a/tests/unit/test-bdrv-drain.c b/tests/unit/test-bdrv-drain.c
index 36be84ae55..181458eecb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test-bdrv-drain.c
+++ b/tests/unit/test-bdrv-drain.c
@@ -943,61 +943,83 @@ static void test_blockjob_common_drain_node(enum drain_type drain_type,
         }
     }
 
-    g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
-    g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
-    g_assert_true(tjob->running);
-    g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
+        g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
+        g_assert_true(tjob->running);
+        g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    }
 
     do_drain_begin_unlocked(drain_type, drain_bs);
 
-    if (drain_type == BDRV_DRAIN_ALL) {
-        /* bdrv_drain_all() drains both src and target */
-        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 2);
-    } else {
-        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 1);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        if (drain_type == BDRV_DRAIN_ALL) {
+            /* bdrv_drain_all() drains both src and target */
+            g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 2);
+        } else {
+            g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 1);
+        }
+        g_assert_true(job->job.paused);
+        g_assert_false(job->job.busy); /* The job is paused */
     }
-    g_assert_true(job->job.paused);
-    g_assert_false(job->job.busy); /* The job is paused */
 
     do_drain_end_unlocked(drain_type, drain_bs);
 
     if (use_iothread) {
-        /* paused is reset in the I/O thread, wait for it */
+        /*
+         * Here we are waiting for the paused status to change,
+         * so don't bother protecting the read every time.
+         *
+         * paused is reset in the I/O thread, wait for it
+         */
         while (job->job.paused) {
             aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), false);
         }
     }
 
-    g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
-    g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
-    g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
+        g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
+        g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    }
 
     do_drain_begin_unlocked(drain_type, target);
 
-    if (drain_type == BDRV_DRAIN_ALL) {
-        /* bdrv_drain_all() drains both src and target */
-        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 2);
-    } else {
-        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 1);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        if (drain_type == BDRV_DRAIN_ALL) {
+            /* bdrv_drain_all() drains both src and target */
+            g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 2);
+        } else {
+            g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 1);
+        }
+        g_assert_true(job->job.paused);
+        g_assert_false(job->job.busy); /* The job is paused */
     }
-    g_assert_true(job->job.paused);
-    g_assert_false(job->job.busy); /* The job is paused */
 
     do_drain_end_unlocked(drain_type, target);
 
     if (use_iothread) {
-        /* paused is reset in the I/O thread, wait for it */
+        /*
+         * Here we are waiting for the paused status to change,
+         * so don't bother protecting the read every time.
+         *
+         * paused is reset in the I/O thread, wait for it
+         */
         while (job->job.paused) {
             aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), false);
         }
     }
 
-    g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
-    g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
-    g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        g_assert_cmpint(job->job.pause_count, ==, 0);
+        g_assert_false(job->job.paused);
+        g_assert_true(job->job.busy); /* We're in qemu_co_sleep_ns() */
+    }
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
-    ret = job_complete_sync(&job->job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        ret = job_complete_sync(&job->job, &error_abort);
+    }
     g_assert_cmpint(ret, ==, (result == TEST_JOB_SUCCESS ? 0 : -EIO));
 
     if (use_iothread) {
diff --git a/tests/unit/test-block-iothread.c b/tests/unit/test-block-iothread.c
index 94718c9319..9866262f79 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test-block-iothread.c
+++ b/tests/unit/test-block-iothread.c
@@ -456,7 +456,9 @@ static void test_attach_blockjob(void)
     }
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
-    job_complete_sync(&tjob->common.job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_complete_sync(&tjob->common.job, &error_abort);
+    }
     blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
@@ -630,7 +632,9 @@ static void test_propagate_mirror(void)
                  BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT, BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT,
                  false, "filter_node", MIRROR_COPY_MODE_BACKGROUND,
                  &error_abort);
-    job = job_get("job0");
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job = job_get("job0");
+    }
     filter = bdrv_find_node("filter_node");
 
     /* Change the AioContext of src */
diff --git a/tests/unit/test-blockjob-txn.c b/tests/unit/test-blockjob-txn.c
index c69028b450..0355e54001 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test-blockjob-txn.c
+++ b/tests/unit/test-blockjob-txn.c
@@ -116,8 +116,10 @@ static void test_single_job(int expected)
     job = test_block_job_start(1, true, expected, &result, txn);
     job_start(&job->job);
 
-    if (expected == -ECANCELED) {
-        job_cancel(&job->job, false);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        if (expected == -ECANCELED) {
+            job_cancel(&job->job, false);
+        }
     }
 
     while (result == -EINPROGRESS) {
@@ -125,7 +127,9 @@ static void test_single_job(int expected)
     }
     g_assert_cmpint(result, ==, expected);
 
-    job_txn_unref(txn);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_txn_unref(txn);
+    }
 }
 
 static void test_single_job_success(void)
@@ -160,13 +164,15 @@ static void test_pair_jobs(int expected1, int expected2)
     /* Release our reference now to trigger as many nice
      * use-after-free bugs as possible.
      */
-    job_txn_unref(txn);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_txn_unref(txn);
 
-    if (expected1 == -ECANCELED) {
-        job_cancel(&job1->job, false);
-    }
-    if (expected2 == -ECANCELED) {
-        job_cancel(&job2->job, false);
+        if (expected1 == -ECANCELED) {
+            job_cancel(&job1->job, false);
+        }
+        if (expected2 == -ECANCELED) {
+            job_cancel(&job2->job, false);
+        }
     }
 
     while (result1 == -EINPROGRESS || result2 == -EINPROGRESS) {
@@ -219,7 +225,9 @@ static void test_pair_jobs_fail_cancel_race(void)
     job_start(&job1->job);
     job_start(&job2->job);
 
-    job_cancel(&job1->job, false);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_cancel(&job1->job, false);
+    }
 
     /* Now make job2 finish before the main loop kicks jobs.  This simulates
      * the race between a pending kick and another job completing.
@@ -234,7 +242,9 @@ static void test_pair_jobs_fail_cancel_race(void)
     g_assert_cmpint(result1, ==, -ECANCELED);
     g_assert_cmpint(result2, ==, -ECANCELED);
 
-    job_txn_unref(txn);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_txn_unref(txn);
+    }
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test-blockjob.c b/tests/unit/test-blockjob.c
index 4c9e1bf1e5..ab7958dad5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test-blockjob.c
+++ b/tests/unit/test-blockjob.c
@@ -211,8 +211,11 @@ static CancelJob *create_common(Job **pjob)
     bjob = mk_job(blk, "Steve", &test_cancel_driver, true,
                   JOB_MANUAL_FINALIZE | JOB_MANUAL_DISMISS);
     job = &bjob->job;
-    job_ref(job);
-    assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CREATED);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_ref(job);
+        assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CREATED);
+    }
+
     s = container_of(bjob, CancelJob, common);
     s->blk = blk;
 
@@ -230,13 +233,15 @@ static void cancel_common(CancelJob *s)
     ctx = job->job.aio_context;
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
 
-    job_cancel_sync(&job->job, true);
-    if (sts != JOB_STATUS_CREATED && sts != JOB_STATUS_CONCLUDED) {
-        Job *dummy = &job->job;
-        job_dismiss(&dummy, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_cancel_sync(&job->job, true);
+        if (sts != JOB_STATUS_CREATED && sts != JOB_STATUS_CONCLUDED) {
+            Job *dummy = &job->job;
+            job_dismiss(&dummy, &error_abort);
+        }
+        assert(job->job.status == JOB_STATUS_NULL);
+        job_unref(&job->job);
     }
-    assert(job->job.status == JOB_STATUS_NULL);
-    job_unref(&job->job);
     destroy_blk(blk);
 
     aio_context_release(ctx);
@@ -251,6 +256,10 @@ static void test_cancel_created(void)
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_running(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -264,6 +273,10 @@ static void test_cancel_running(void)
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_paused(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -274,13 +287,19 @@ static void test_cancel_paused(void)
     job_start(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_RUNNING);
 
-    job_user_pause(job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_user_pause(job, &error_abort);
+    }
     job_enter(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_PAUSED);
 
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_ready(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -298,6 +317,10 @@ static void test_cancel_ready(void)
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_standby(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -312,13 +335,19 @@ static void test_cancel_standby(void)
     job_enter(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_READY);
 
-    job_user_pause(job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_user_pause(job, &error_abort);
+    }
     job_enter(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_STANDBY);
 
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_pending(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -333,7 +362,9 @@ static void test_cancel_pending(void)
     job_enter(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_READY);
 
-    job_complete(job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_complete(job, &error_abort);
+    }
     job_enter(job);
     while (!job->deferred_to_main_loop) {
         aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), true);
@@ -345,6 +376,10 @@ static void test_cancel_pending(void)
     cancel_common(s);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This test always runs in the main loop, so there is no
+ * need to protect job->status.
+ */
 static void test_cancel_concluded(void)
 {
     Job *job;
@@ -359,7 +394,9 @@ static void test_cancel_concluded(void)
     job_enter(job);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_READY);
 
-    job_complete(job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_complete(job, &error_abort);
+    }
     job_enter(job);
     while (!job->deferred_to_main_loop) {
         aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), true);
@@ -369,7 +406,9 @@ static void test_cancel_concluded(void)
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_PENDING);
 
     aio_context_acquire(job->aio_context);
-    job_finalize(job, &error_abort);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        job_finalize(job, &error_abort);
+    }
     aio_context_release(job->aio_context);
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CONCLUDED);
 
@@ -459,36 +498,45 @@ static void test_complete_in_standby(void)
     bjob = mk_job(blk, "job", &test_yielding_driver, true,
                   JOB_MANUAL_FINALIZE | JOB_MANUAL_DISMISS);
     job = &bjob->job;
+    /* Job did not start, so status is safe to read*/
     assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CREATED);
 
     /* Wait for the job to become READY */
     job_start(job);
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
+    /*
+     * Here we are waiting for the status to change, so don't bother
+     * protecting the read every time.
+     */
     AIO_WAIT_WHILE(ctx, job->status != JOB_STATUS_READY);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
     /* Begin the drained section, pausing the job */
     bdrv_drain_all_begin();
-    assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_STANDBY);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_STANDBY);
+    }
     /* Lock the IO thread to prevent the job from being run */
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
     /* This will schedule the job to resume it */
     bdrv_drain_all_end();
 
-    /* But the job cannot run, so it will remain on standby */
-    assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_STANDBY);
+    WITH_JOB_LOCK_GUARD() {
+        /* But the job cannot run, so it will remain on standby */
+        assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_STANDBY);
 
-    /* Even though the job is on standby, this should work */
-    job_complete(job, &error_abort);
+        /* Even though the job is on standby, this should work */
+        job_complete(job, &error_abort);
 
-    /* The test is done now, clean up. */
-    job_finish_sync(job, NULL, &error_abort);
-    assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_PENDING);
+        /* The test is done now, clean up. */
+        job_finish_sync(job, NULL, &error_abort);
+        assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_PENDING);
 
-    job_finalize(job, &error_abort);
-    assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CONCLUDED);
+        job_finalize(job, &error_abort);
+        assert(job->status == JOB_STATUS_CONCLUDED);
 
-    job_dismiss(&job, &error_abort);
+        job_dismiss(&job, &error_abort);
+    }
 
     destroy_blk(blk);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
