diff --git a/cloudkitty/orchestrator.py b/cloudkitty/orchestrator.py
index 05c06390..722c8208 100644
--- a/cloudkitty/orchestrator.py
+++ b/cloudkitty/orchestrator.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class Orchestrator(object):
         self.coord = coordination.get_coordinator(
             CONF.orchestrator.coordination_url,
             uuidutils.generate_uuid().encode('ascii'))
-        self.coord.start()
+        self.coord.start(start_heart=True)
 
     def _lock(self, tenant_id):
         lock_name = b"cloudkitty-" + str(tenant_id).encode('ascii')
@@ -308,7 +308,6 @@ class Orchestrator(object):
 
                     lock.release()
 
-                self.coord.heartbeat()
                 # NOTE(sheeprine): Slow down looping if all tenants are
                 # being processed
                 eventlet.sleep(1)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-lock-release-74d112c8599c9a59.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-lock-release-74d112c8599c9a59.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90c4cb58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-lock-release-74d112c8599c9a59.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    cloudkitty-processor crashes which happened when using distributed
+    tooz locks have been fixed.