diff --git a/compiler/ir/backend.jvm/LockPriority.md b/compiler/ir/backend.jvm/LockPriority.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dfda035e000
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/ir/backend.jvm/LockPriority.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Priority of locks in parallel runs of the JVM IR backend
+
+To avoid deadlocks in backend code, please make sure that a lock that comes earlier in the list
+never gets acquired by a thread that already holds one of the locks that come later.
+
+1. `JvmBackendContext.inlineMethodGenerationLock`. Used to prevent concurrent generation of inline functions.
+1. Global `IrLock` instance. Used in `SymbolTable`, 
+   `lazyVar` instances in `IrLazyDeclaration`, `Fir2IrLazyDeclaration` subclasses,
+   `Fir2IrDeclarationStorage`.
+1. - lock in `ClassBuilderAndSourceFileList.asBytes`.
+   - lock on `methodNode` in `InlineCodegen.cloneMethodNode`.
+   - Locks protecting `InlineCache` maps.
\ No newline at end of file