diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/ironic_api_client.py b/ironic_python_agent/ironic_api_client.py
index a2e7e1d00..8ea7029e7 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/ironic_api_client.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/ironic_api_client.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import json
+import time
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ class APIClient(object):
     heartbeat_api = '/%s/heartbeat/{uuid}' % api_version
     _ironic_api_version = None
     agent_token = None
+    lookup_lock_pause = 0
 
     def __init__(self, api_url):
         self.api_url = api_url.rstrip('/')
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ class APIClient(object):
             raise errors.HeartbeatError(error)
 
     def lookup_node(self, hardware_info, timeout, starting_interval,
-                    node_uuid=None, max_interval=30):
+                    node_uuid=None, max_interval=60):
         retry = tenacity.retry(
             retry=tenacity.retry_if_result(lambda r: r is False),
             stop=tenacity.stop_after_delay(timeout),
@@ -244,10 +246,31 @@ class APIClient(object):
                 LOG.error(exc_msg)
                 raise errors.LookupNodeError(msg)
 
+        if response.status_code == requests.codes.CONFLICT:
+            if self.lookup_lock_pause == 0:
+                self.lookup_lock_pause = 5
+            elif self.lookup_lock_pause == 5:
+                self.lookup_lock_pause = 10
+            elif self.lookup_lock_pause == 10:
+                # If we're reaching this point, we've got a long held
+                # persistent lock, which means things can go very sideways
+                # or the ironic deployment is downright grumpy. Either way,
+                # we need to slow things down.
+                self.lookup_lock_pause = 30
+            LOG.warning(
+                'Ironic has responded with a conflict, signaling the '
+                'node is locked. We will wait %(time)s seconds before trying '
+                'again. %(err)s',
+                {'time': self.lookup_lock_pause,
+                 'error': self._error_from_response(response)}
+            )
+            time.sleep(self.lookup_lock_pause)
+            return False
+
         if response.status_code != requests.codes.OK:
             LOG.warning(
                 'Failed looking up node with addresses %r at %s. '
-                '%s. Check if inspection has completed.',
+                'Check if inspection has completed? %s',
                 params['addresses'], self.api_url,
                 self._error_from_response(response)
             )
diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_ironic_api_client.py b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_ironic_api_client.py
index 8c05652ce..6c101acc7 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_ironic_api_client.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_ironic_api_client.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import json
+import time
 from unittest import mock
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
@@ -461,6 +462,32 @@ class TestBaseIronicPythonAgent(base.IronicAgentTest):
             mock_log.error.assert_has_calls([])
             self.assertEqual(1, mock_log.warning.call_count)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(time, 'sleep', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(ironic_api_client, 'LOG', autospec=True)
+    def test_do_lookup_node_locked(self, mock_log, mock_sleep):
+        response = FakeResponse(status_code=409, content={})
+        self.api_client.session.request = mock.Mock()
+        self.api_client.session.request.return_value = response
+        self.assertEqual(0, self.api_client.lookup_lock_pause)
+        error = self.api_client._do_lookup(self.hardware_info,
+                                           node_uuid=None)
+        self.assertFalse(error)
+        mock_log.error.assert_has_calls([])
+        self.assertEqual(1, mock_log.warning.call_count)
+        self.assertEqual(1, mock_sleep.call_count)
+        self.assertEqual(5, self.api_client.lookup_lock_pause)
+        error = self.api_client._do_lookup(self.hardware_info,
+                                           node_uuid=None)
+        self.assertEqual(10, self.api_client.lookup_lock_pause)
+        error = self.api_client._do_lookup(self.hardware_info,
+                                           node_uuid=None)
+        self.assertFalse(error)
+        self.assertEqual(30, self.api_client.lookup_lock_pause)
+        error = self.api_client._do_lookup(self.hardware_info,
+                                           node_uuid=None)
+        self.assertFalse(error)
+        self.assertEqual(30, self.api_client.lookup_lock_pause)
+
     @mock.patch.object(ironic_api_client, 'LOG', autospec=True)
     def test_do_lookup_unknown_exception(self, mock_log):
         self.api_client.session.request = mock.Mock()
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/understand-node-conflict-is-locked-2ea21dd45abfe4f7.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/understand-node-conflict-is-locked-2ea21dd45abfe4f7.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c0e77964e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/understand-node-conflict-is-locked-2ea21dd45abfe4f7.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes, or at least lessens the case where a running Ironic agent can stack
+    up numerous lookup requests against an Ironic deployment when a node is
+    locked. In particular, this is beause the lookup also drives generation of
+    the agent token, which requires the conductor to allocate a worker, and
+    generate the token, and return the result to the API client.
+    Ironic's retry logic will now wait up to ``60`` seconds, and if an HTTP
+    Conflict (409) message is received, the agent will automatically pause
+    lookup operations for thirty seconds as opposed continue to attempt
+    lookups which could create more work for the Ironic deployment
+    needlessly.