diff --git a/src/backend/commands/statscmds.c b/src/backend/commands/statscmds.c
index 0ab43deb71..1126e7a585 100644
--- a/src/backend/commands/statscmds.c
+++ b/src/backend/commands/statscmds.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "commands/defrem.h"
 #include "miscadmin.h"
 #include "statistics/statistics.h"
+#include "storage/lmgr.h"
 #include "utils/builtins.h"
 #include "utils/fmgroids.h"
 #include "utils/inval.h"
@@ -533,6 +534,21 @@ RemoveStatisticsById(Oid statsOid)
 	Form_pg_statistic_ext statext;
 	Oid			relid;
 
+	/* Lookup and lock relation the statistics is defined on. */
+	tup = SearchSysCache1(STATEXTOID, ObjectIdGetDatum(statsOid));
+
+	if (!HeapTupleIsValid(tup))
+		elog(ERROR, "cache lookup failed for statistics object %u", statsOid);
+
+	statext = (Form_pg_statistic_ext) GETSTRUCT(tup);
+	relid = statext->stxrelid;
+
+	/* lock the relation in access exclusive mode */
+	LockRelationOid(relid, AccessExclusiveLock);
+
+	ReleaseSysCache(tup);
+
+
 	/*
 	 * First delete the pg_statistic_ext_data tuple holding the actual
 	 * statistical data.