diff --git a/pkg/distlock/doc.go b/pkg/distlock/doc.go
index 7327fb56..08e30a93 100644
--- a/pkg/distlock/doc.go
+++ b/pkg/distlock/doc.go
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 // Package distlock provides distributed, automatically renewed leases across independent nodes.
 //
+// Its quorum and lease semantics are based on the Redlock algorithm described at
+// https://redis.io/docs/latest/develop/clients/patterns/distributed-locks/. The core package is independent of storage
+// and network transport and does not require Redis. Applications that communicate with remote nodes over gRPC can use
+// the grpc subpackage to expose and call node-local lease operations.
+//
 // A Cluster must return every node in the lock group, including temporarily unavailable nodes, because every node
 // counts toward quorum. Changing the node set is unsafe if a new quorum can be disjoint from an earlier quorum while
 // leases acquired from the earlier node set may still be valid. Callers must stop protected work when the context
diff --git a/pkg/distlock/locker.go b/pkg/distlock/locker.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5df809a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/distlock/locker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,393 @@
+package distlock
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"slices"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
+)
+
+const (
+	DefaultLeaseDuration      = 10 * time.Second
+	DefaultClockDriftFactor   = 0.01
+	DefaultMaxNodeCallTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrLeaseLost is the cancellation cause when automatic renewal can no longer maintain a lease.
+	ErrLeaseLost = errors.New("distributed lease lost")
+	// ErrLeaseReleased is the cancellation cause of an explicitly released lease.
+	ErrLeaseReleased = errors.New("distributed lease released")
+)
+
+// Config configures a Locker.
+type Config struct {
+	// LeaseDuration is the TTL used for acquisitions and renewals. The default is DefaultLeaseDuration.
+	LeaseDuration time.Duration
+	// ClockDriftFactor is the fraction of LeaseDuration reserved for differences in clock rates between the Locker and
+	// nodes. The default is DefaultClockDriftFactor.
+	ClockDriftFactor float64
+	// NodeCallTimeout sets the context timeout for an Acquire, Renew, or Release call to one node.
+	// The default is the smaller of DefaultMaxNodeCallTimeout and one third of the lease duration.
+	NodeCallTimeout time.Duration
+	// NewBackOff creates independent retry policies for acquisitions and renewal cycles. The default is an exponential
+	// backoff starting at 100ms and capped at 1s. A policy should not impose its own elapsed-time limit because the
+	// acquisition context and current lease validity already bound retries.
+	NewBackOff func() backoff.BackOff
+}
+
+func (c Config) clockDrift() time.Duration {
+	return time.Duration(math.Ceil(float64(c.LeaseDuration) * c.ClockDriftFactor))
+}
+
+// Locker acquires automatically renewed distributed leases over a Cluster.
+type Locker struct {
+	config  Config
+	cluster Cluster
+}
+
+// New creates a Locker over cluster.
+func New(cluster Cluster, config Config) (*Locker, error) {
+	if cluster == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cluster is nil")
+	}
+
+	if config.LeaseDuration == 0 {
+		config.LeaseDuration = DefaultLeaseDuration
+	}
+	if config.LeaseDuration < 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lease duration must be positive")
+	}
+	if config.ClockDriftFactor == 0 {
+		config.ClockDriftFactor = DefaultClockDriftFactor
+	}
+	if config.ClockDriftFactor <= 0 || config.ClockDriftFactor >= 1 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("clock drift factor must be greater than 0 and less than 1")
+	}
+	if config.NodeCallTimeout == 0 {
+		config.NodeCallTimeout = min(DefaultMaxNodeCallTimeout, config.LeaseDuration/3)
+	}
+	if config.NodeCallTimeout < 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node call timeout must be positive")
+	}
+	if config.NewBackOff == nil {
+		config.NewBackOff = defaultBackOff
+	}
+
+	return &Locker{config: config, cluster: cluster}, nil
+}
+
+func defaultBackOff() backoff.BackOff {
+	return backoff.NewExponentialBackOff(
+		backoff.WithInitialInterval(100*time.Millisecond),
+		backoff.WithMaxInterval(time.Second),
+		backoff.WithMaxElapsedTime(0),
+	)
+}
+
+// Acquire waits until it acquires a lease for resource or ctx ends.
+func (l *Locker) Acquire(ctx context.Context, resource string) (*Lease, error) {
+	if resource == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resource is empty")
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	nodes, err := l.cluster.Nodes(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get cluster nodes: %w", err)
+	}
+	if len(nodes) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cluster has no nodes")
+	}
+	nodes = slices.Clone(nodes)
+
+	boff := backoff.WithContext(l.config.NewBackOff(), ctx)
+	var lease *Lease
+	err = backoff.Retry(func() error {
+		token, tokenErr := newOwnershipToken()
+		if tokenErr != nil {
+			return backoff.Permanent(fmt.Errorf("generate lease token: %w", tokenErr))
+		}
+
+		candidate := newLease(l, nodes, resource, token)
+		if err := candidate.acquire(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		lease = candidate
+		return nil
+	}, boff)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("acquire distributed lease for %q: %w", resource, err)
+	}
+
+	return lease, nil
+}
+
+// newOwnershipToken generates a unique 128-bit random ownership token for a lease.
+func newOwnershipToken() ([]byte, error) {
+	token := make([]byte, 16)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(token); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return token, nil
+}
+
+// Lease is an automatically renewed distributed lease.
+type Lease struct {
+	config   Config
+	nodes    []Node
+	resource string
+	token    []byte
+
+	ctx    context.Context
+	cancel context.CancelCauseFunc
+	// done is closed when the renewal goroutine exits.
+	done chan struct{}
+
+	// operationMu prevents acquisition, renewal, and release operations for the lease from overlapping.
+	operationMu sync.Mutex
+	quorum      int
+}
+
+func newLease(locker *Locker, nodes []Node, resource string, token []byte) *Lease {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
+	return &Lease{
+		config:   locker.config,
+		nodes:    nodes,
+		resource: resource,
+		token:    token,
+		ctx:      ctx,
+		cancel:   cancel,
+		done:     make(chan struct{}),
+		quorum:   len(nodes)/2 + 1,
+	}
+}
+
+// Context returns a context that is cancelled when the lease is lost or explicitly released.
+func (l *Lease) Context() context.Context {
+	return l.ctx
+}
+
+// Release stops automatic renewal and attempts to remove the lease from every node in its acquisition snapshot.
+func (l *Lease) Release(ctx context.Context) error {
+	l.cancel(ErrLeaseReleased)
+	select {
+	case <-l.done:
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
+	if err := l.release(ctx); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("release distributed lease for %q: %w", l.resource, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type nodeResult struct {
+	success bool
+	err     error
+}
+
+func collectNodeResults(results <-chan nodeResult) (successes int, err error) {
+	var errs []error
+	for result := range results {
+		if result.err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, result.err)
+		} else if result.success {
+			successes++
+		}
+	}
+	return successes, errors.Join(errs...)
+}
+
+func (l *Lease) executeNodes(ctx context.Context, fn func(context.Context, Node) (bool, error)) <-chan nodeResult {
+	results := make(chan nodeResult, len(l.nodes))
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for _, node := range l.nodes {
+		wg.Go(func() {
+			callCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, l.config.NodeCallTimeout)
+			defer cancel()
+
+			success, err := fn(callCtx, node)
+			results <- nodeResult{success: success, err: err}
+		})
+	}
+	go func() {
+		wg.Wait()
+		close(results)
+	}()
+	return results
+}
+
+// acquire makes one attempt to obtain the lease from a quorum of nodes and starts renewal on success.
+func (l *Lease) acquire(ctx context.Context) error {
+	startedAt := time.Now()
+	validUntil := startedAt.Add(l.config.LeaseDuration - l.config.clockDrift())
+	resultCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	// Aggregate asynchronously so acquire can return at quorum while this goroutine drains the remaining results and
+	// holds operationMu until every node call has finished.
+	go func() {
+		l.operationMu.Lock()
+		defer l.operationMu.Unlock()
+
+		// Use the lease context so cancelling the context passed to Acquire after it succeeds does not stop node calls
+		// still pending after quorum. On failure, acquire cancels the lease context below. The validity deadline and
+		// per-node NodeCallTimeout bound these calls.
+		operationCtx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(l.ctx, validUntil)
+		defer cancel()
+		results := l.executeNodes(operationCtx, func(ctx context.Context, node Node) (bool, error) {
+			return node.Acquire(ctx, l.resource, l.token, l.config.LeaseDuration)
+		})
+
+		successes := 0
+		errs := make([]error, 0, len(l.nodes))
+		reported := false
+		for result := range results {
+			if result.err != nil {
+				errs = append(errs, result.err)
+			} else if result.success {
+				successes++
+			}
+			if !reported && successes >= l.quorum {
+				resultCh <- nil
+				reported = true
+			}
+		}
+		if !reported {
+			quorumErr := fmt.Errorf("lease acquired on %d of %d nodes, need at least %d",
+				successes, len(l.nodes), l.quorum)
+			resultCh <- errors.Join(quorumErr, errors.Join(errs...))
+		}
+	}()
+
+	var acquireErr error
+	select {
+	case acquireErr = <-resultCh:
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		acquireErr = ctx.Err()
+	}
+
+	if acquireErr == nil {
+		if !time.Now().Before(validUntil) {
+			acquireErr = fmt.Errorf("lease validity expired during acquisition")
+		} else {
+			go l.runRenew(validUntil)
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Cancel any node Acquire calls still in progress. release waits for them to finish before removing partial leases,
+	// so no node can create this lease after cleanup has run.
+	l.cancel(acquireErr)
+	_ = l.release(context.WithoutCancel(ctx))
+	return acquireErr
+}
+
+// release waits for any in-progress lease operation, removes the lease from every node, and returns any errors.
+func (l *Lease) release(ctx context.Context) error {
+	l.operationMu.Lock()
+	defer l.operationMu.Unlock()
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	results := l.executeNodes(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, node Node) (bool, error) {
+		return node.Release(ctx, l.resource, l.token)
+	})
+	_, err := collectNodeResults(results)
+	return err
+}
+
+// runRenew periodically renews the lease until it is released or lost.
+func (l *Lease) runRenew(validUntil time.Time) {
+	defer close(l.done)
+
+	for {
+		remaining := time.Until(validUntil)
+		if remaining <= 0 {
+			break
+		}
+
+		// Start renewal with two thirds of the current validity remaining
+		// to leave time for slow node calls and retries.
+		timer := time.NewTimer(remaining / 3)
+		select {
+		case <-l.ctx.Done():
+			timer.Stop()
+			return
+		case <-timer.C:
+		}
+
+		renewedUntil, err := l.renew(validUntil)
+		if err != nil {
+			if l.ctx.Err() != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			break
+		}
+		validUntil = renewedUntil
+	}
+
+	l.cancel(ErrLeaseLost)
+	_ = l.release(context.Background())
+}
+
+// renew retries node renewals until a quorum succeeds, the configured backoff stops, or the current lease validity
+// ends. It returns the new validity deadline after reaching quorum.
+func (l *Lease) renew(currentValidUntil time.Time) (time.Time, error) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(l.ctx, currentValidUntil)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var validUntil time.Time
+	resultCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	// Coordinate in the background so renew can report expiry even if a node call does not return after cancellation.
+	// Keep operationMu held until every call finishes so cleanup cannot race a pending renewal.
+	go func() {
+		l.operationMu.Lock()
+		defer l.operationMu.Unlock()
+
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			resultCh <- err
+			return
+		}
+
+		boff := backoff.WithContext(l.config.NewBackOff(), ctx)
+		resultCh <- backoff.Retry(func() error {
+			startedAt := time.Now()
+			results := l.executeNodes(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, node Node) (bool, error) {
+				return node.Renew(ctx, l.resource, l.token, l.config.LeaseDuration)
+			})
+			successes, nodeErr := collectNodeResults(results)
+			if ctx.Err() != nil {
+				return ctx.Err()
+			}
+			if !time.Now().Before(currentValidUntil) {
+				return backoff.Permanent(fmt.Errorf("renewal attempt took longer than its validity window"))
+			}
+
+			if successes >= l.quorum {
+				validUntil = startedAt.Add(l.config.LeaseDuration - l.config.clockDrift())
+				return nil
+			}
+			quorumErr := fmt.Errorf("lease renewed on %d of %d nodes, need at least %d",
+				successes, len(l.nodes), l.quorum)
+			return errors.Join(quorumErr, nodeErr)
+		}, boff)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-resultCh:
+		return validUntil, err
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return time.Time{}, ctx.Err()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/distlock/locker_test.go b/pkg/distlock/locker_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..916673dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/distlock/locker_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,445 @@
+package distlock_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
+	"github.com/psviderski/uncloud/pkg/distlock"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+var errMemoryNodeUnavailable = errors.New("memory node unavailable")
+
+type memoryCluster struct {
+	nodes []*memoryNode
+}
+
+func newMemoryCluster(size int) *memoryCluster {
+	cluster := &memoryCluster{nodes: make([]*memoryNode, size)}
+	for i := range cluster.nodes {
+		cluster.nodes[i] = &memoryNode{store: distlock.NewMemoryStore(), available: true}
+	}
+	return cluster
+}
+
+func (c *memoryCluster) Nodes(ctx context.Context) ([]distlock.Node, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	nodes := make([]distlock.Node, len(c.nodes))
+	for i, node := range c.nodes {
+		nodes[i] = node
+	}
+	return nodes, nil
+}
+
+type memoryNode struct {
+	mu                  sync.Mutex
+	store               distlock.Store
+	available           bool
+	unavailableObserved chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) setAvailable(available bool) {
+	if !available {
+		n.makeUnavailable()
+		return
+	}
+
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	n.available = true
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) makeUnavailable() <-chan struct{} {
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	n.available = false
+	n.unavailableObserved = make(chan struct{})
+	return n.unavailableObserved
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) restart() {
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	n.store = distlock.NewMemoryStore()
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) currentStore(ctx context.Context) (distlock.Store, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	if !n.available {
+		if n.unavailableObserved != nil {
+			close(n.unavailableObserved)
+			n.unavailableObserved = nil
+		}
+		return nil, errMemoryNodeUnavailable
+	}
+	return n.store, nil
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) Acquire(
+	ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte, ttl time.Duration,
+) (bool, error) {
+	store, err := n.currentStore(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return store.Acquire(ctx, resource, token, ttl)
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) Renew(
+	ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte, ttl time.Duration,
+) (bool, error) {
+	store, err := n.currentStore(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return store.Renew(ctx, resource, token, ttl)
+}
+
+func (n *memoryNode) Release(ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte) (bool, error) {
+	store, err := n.currentStore(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return store.Release(ctx, resource, token)
+}
+
+func retryBackOff() backoff.BackOff {
+	return backoff.NewConstantBackOff(5 * time.Millisecond)
+}
+
+func oneAttemptBackOff() backoff.BackOff {
+	return &backoff.StopBackOff{}
+}
+
+func newTestLocker(
+	t *testing.T, cluster distlock.Cluster, leaseDuration time.Duration, newBackOff func() backoff.BackOff,
+) *distlock.Locker {
+	t.Helper()
+	locker, err := distlock.New(cluster, distlock.Config{
+		LeaseDuration:   leaseDuration,
+		NodeCallTimeout: leaseDuration / 3,
+		NewBackOff:      newBackOff,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return locker
+}
+
+func acquireLease(t *testing.T, locker *distlock.Locker, resource string) *distlock.Lease {
+	t.Helper()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	lease, err := locker.Acquire(ctx, resource)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return lease
+}
+
+func releaseLease(t *testing.T, lease *distlock.Lease) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	require.NoError(t, lease.Release(ctx))
+}
+
+func requireNoReceive[T any](t *testing.T, ch <-chan T, timeout time.Duration, message string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case <-ch:
+		require.FailNow(t, message)
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+	}
+}
+
+func requireReceive[T any](t *testing.T, ch <-chan T, timeout time.Duration, message string) T {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case value := <-ch:
+		return value
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+		require.FailNow(t, message)
+		var zero T
+		return zero
+	}
+}
+
+func requireContextActive(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, message string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		require.FailNow(t, message, "cause: %v", context.Cause(ctx))
+	default:
+	}
+}
+
+func requireSignal(t *testing.T, ch <-chan struct{}, timeout time.Duration, message string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case <-ch:
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+		require.FailNow(t, message)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLockerAcquireQuorumBoundaries(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		nodes       int
+		unavailable int
+		wantAcquire bool
+	}{
+		{name: "two nodes at quorum", nodes: 2, wantAcquire: true},
+		{name: "two nodes below quorum", nodes: 2, unavailable: 1, wantAcquire: false},
+		{name: "three nodes at quorum", nodes: 3, unavailable: 1, wantAcquire: true},
+		{name: "three nodes below quorum", nodes: 3, unavailable: 2, wantAcquire: false},
+		{name: "four nodes at quorum", nodes: 4, unavailable: 1, wantAcquire: true},
+		{name: "four nodes below quorum", nodes: 4, unavailable: 2, wantAcquire: false},
+		{name: "five nodes at quorum", nodes: 5, unavailable: 2, wantAcquire: true},
+		{name: "five nodes below quorum", nodes: 5, unavailable: 3, wantAcquire: false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			cluster := newMemoryCluster(tt.nodes)
+			unavailableObserved := make([]<-chan struct{}, 0, tt.unavailable)
+			for i := range tt.unavailable {
+				unavailableObserved = append(unavailableObserved, cluster.nodes[tt.nodes-1-i].makeUnavailable())
+			}
+			locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+			acquireCtx, cancelAcquire := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+			lease, err := locker.Acquire(acquireCtx, "resource")
+			cancelAcquire()
+			for _, observed := range unavailableObserved {
+				requireSignal(t, observed, time.Second, "unavailable node did not receive acquisition")
+			}
+			for i := range tt.unavailable {
+				cluster.nodes[tt.nodes-1-i].setAvailable(true)
+			}
+
+			if tt.wantAcquire {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NotNil(t, lease)
+				releaseLease(t, lease)
+			} else {
+				if lease != nil {
+					releaseLease(t, lease)
+				}
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				require.Nil(t, lease)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLockerSingleNodeLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	const leaseDuration = 300 * time.Millisecond
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(1)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+	lease := acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	defer func() {
+		if lease.Context().Err() != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		_ = lease.Release(ctx)
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(leaseDuration + 100*time.Millisecond)
+	requireContextActive(t, lease.Context(), "single-node lease was not renewed")
+	releaseLease(t, lease)
+
+	secondLease := acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	releaseLease(t, secondLease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerFailedAcquireCleansUpPartialLease(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	cluster.nodes[1].setAvailable(false)
+	cluster.nodes[2].setAvailable(false)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+	lease, err := locker.Acquire(context.Background(), "resource")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, lease)
+
+	cluster.nodes[1].setAvailable(true)
+	cluster.nodes[2].setAvailable(true)
+	lease = acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	releaseLease(t, lease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerAcquiresIndependentResourcesConcurrently(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, oneAttemptBackOff)
+	resources := []string{"database", "deployment", "network", "volume"}
+
+	type acquireResult struct {
+		resource string
+		lease    *distlock.Lease
+		err      error
+	}
+	resultCh := make(chan acquireResult, len(resources))
+	start := make(chan struct{})
+	acquireCtx, cancelAcquire := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancelAcquire()
+	for _, resource := range resources {
+		go func() {
+			<-start
+			lease, err := locker.Acquire(acquireCtx, resource)
+			resultCh <- acquireResult{resource: resource, lease: lease, err: err}
+		}()
+	}
+	close(start)
+
+	results := make([]acquireResult, 0, len(resources))
+	leases := make([]*distlock.Lease, 0, len(resources))
+	for range resources {
+		result := requireReceive(t, resultCh, 2*time.Second, "concurrent acquisition did not finish")
+		results = append(results, result)
+		if result.lease != nil {
+			leases = append(leases, result.lease)
+		}
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		for _, lease := range leases {
+			releaseLease(t, lease)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	for _, result := range results {
+		require.NoErrorf(t, result.err, "acquire %q", result.resource)
+		require.NotNilf(t, result.lease, "acquire %q", result.resource)
+		requireContextActive(t, result.lease.Context(), "independent lease was lost")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLockerExcludesCompetingLeaseUntilRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	firstLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, retryBackOff)
+	secondLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, retryBackOff)
+
+	firstLease := acquireLease(t, firstLocker, "resource")
+
+	type acquireResult struct {
+		lease *distlock.Lease
+		err   error
+	}
+	resultCh := make(chan acquireResult, 1)
+	acquireCtx, cancelAcquire := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
+	defer cancelAcquire()
+	go func() {
+		lease, acquireErr := secondLocker.Acquire(acquireCtx, "resource")
+		resultCh <- acquireResult{lease: lease, err: acquireErr}
+	}()
+
+	requireNoReceive(t, resultCh, 50*time.Millisecond, "competing acquisition returned before release")
+	releaseLease(t, firstLease)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, context.Cause(firstLease.Context()), distlock.ErrLeaseReleased)
+
+	result := requireReceive(t, resultCh, time.Second, "competing acquisition did not finish after release")
+	require.NoError(t, result.err)
+	require.NotNil(t, result.lease)
+	releaseLease(t, result.lease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerContendingAcquireRespectsContext(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	firstLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, retryBackOff)
+	secondLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, 300*time.Millisecond, retryBackOff)
+
+	firstLease := acquireLease(t, firstLocker, "resource")
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if firstLease.Context().Err() != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		_ = firstLease.Release(ctx)
+	})
+
+	acquireCtx, cancelAcquire := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 75*time.Millisecond)
+	defer cancelAcquire()
+	competingLease, err := secondLocker.Acquire(acquireCtx, "resource")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.DeadlineExceeded)
+	require.Nil(t, competingLease)
+	requireContextActive(t, firstLease.Context(), "holding lease was affected by a competing acquisition")
+
+	releaseLease(t, firstLease)
+	secondLease := acquireLease(t, secondLocker, "resource")
+	releaseLease(t, secondLease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerAutomaticallyRenewsLease(t *testing.T) {
+	const leaseDuration = 300 * time.Millisecond
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, retryBackOff)
+	competingLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+	lease := acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	defer releaseLease(t, lease)
+
+	time.Sleep(leaseDuration + 100*time.Millisecond)
+	requireContextActive(t, lease.Context(), "lease was lost instead of renewed")
+
+	competingLease, err := competingLocker.Acquire(context.Background(), "resource")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, competingLease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerRenewsLeaseWithMinorityUnavailable(t *testing.T) {
+	const leaseDuration = 300 * time.Millisecond
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, oneAttemptBackOff)
+	competingLocker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+	lease := acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	unavailableObserved := cluster.nodes[2].makeUnavailable()
+	originalValidityElapsed := time.NewTimer(leaseDuration + 100*time.Millisecond)
+	defer originalValidityElapsed.Stop()
+	defer func() {
+		cluster.nodes[2].setAvailable(true)
+		releaseLease(t, lease)
+	}()
+
+	requireSignal(t, unavailableObserved, time.Second, "unavailable node did not receive renewal")
+	<-originalValidityElapsed.C
+	requireContextActive(t, lease.Context(), "lease was lost after a minority node became unavailable")
+
+	competingLease, err := competingLocker.Acquire(context.Background(), "resource")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, competingLease)
+}
+
+func TestLockerLosesLeaseWhenNodesRestart(t *testing.T) {
+	const leaseDuration = 300 * time.Millisecond
+	cluster := newMemoryCluster(3)
+	locker := newTestLocker(t, cluster, leaseDuration, oneAttemptBackOff)
+
+	lease := acquireLease(t, locker, "resource")
+	for _, node := range cluster.nodes {
+		node.restart()
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case <-lease.Context().Done():
+		require.ErrorIs(t, context.Cause(lease.Context()), distlock.ErrLeaseLost)
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		require.FailNow(t, "lease was not lost after its node state disappeared")
+	}
+
+	releaseLease(t, lease)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, context.Cause(lease.Context()), distlock.ErrLeaseLost)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/distlock/node.go b/pkg/distlock/node.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e8921198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/distlock/node.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package distlock
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Cluster provides point-in-time snapshots of the independent nodes that participate in distributed leases.
+// Implementations must be safe for concurrent use.
+type Cluster interface {
+	// Nodes returns each node counted toward quorum exactly once, including nodes that are temporarily unavailable.
+	// The Locker may keep and use the returned nodes throughout acquisition and until any acquired lease is released.
+	Nodes(ctx context.Context) ([]Node, error)
+}
+
+// Node provides lease operations on a single cluster node.
+//
+// Each operation performs one attempt. A true result means the operation took effect. A false result with no error
+// means the node responded but its lease state rejected the operation. If err is non-nil, the result is unknown and
+// the boolean result must be ignored. Implementations must return promptly when ctx is cancelled, not modify token,
+// and be safe for concurrent use.
+type Node interface {
+	// Acquire creates a lease when resource does not have an unexpired lease.
+	Acquire(ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte, ttl time.Duration) (bool, error)
+	// Renew extends an unexpired lease when its ownership token matches.
+	Renew(ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte, ttl time.Duration) (bool, error)
+	// Release removes an unexpired lease when its ownership token matches.
+	Release(ctx context.Context, resource string, token []byte) (bool, error)
+}