diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index 78bdcedc..7243a4d1 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -18,10 +18,17 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 )
 
+const (
+	connStatusUninitialized = iota
+	connStatusClosed
+	connStatusIdle
+	connStatusBusy
+)
+
 // DialFunc is a function that can be used to connect to a PostgreSQL server
 type DialFunc func(network, addr string) (net.Conn, error)
 
@@ -80,12 +87,10 @@ type Conn struct {
 	fp                 *fastpath
 	pgsqlAfInet        *byte
 	pgsqlAfInet6       *byte
-	busy               bool
 	poolResetCount     int
 	preallocatedRows   []Rows
 
-	closingLock  sync.Mutex
-	alive        bool
+	status       int32 // One of connStatus* constants
 	causeOfDeath error
 
 	// context support
@@ -252,14 +257,14 @@ func (c *Conn) connect(config ConnConfig, network, address string, tlsConfig *tl
 	defer func() {
 		if c != nil && err != nil {
 			c.conn.Close()
-			c.alive = false
+			atomic.StoreInt32(&c.status, connStatusClosed)
 		}
 	}()
 
 	c.RuntimeParams = make(map[string]string)
 	c.preparedStatements = make(map[string]*PreparedStatement)
 	c.channels = make(map[string]struct{})
-	c.alive = true
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&c.status, connStatusIdle)
 	c.lastActivityTime = time.Now()
 	c.doneChan = make(chan struct{})
 	c.closedChan = make(chan error)
@@ -399,11 +404,14 @@ func (c *Conn) loadInetConstants() error {
 // Close closes a connection. It is safe to call Close on a already closed
 // connection.
 func (c *Conn) Close() (err error) {
-	c.closingLock.Lock()
-	defer c.closingLock.Unlock()
-
-	if !c.alive {
-		return nil
+	for {
+		status := atomic.LoadInt32(&c.status)
+		if status < connStatusIdle {
+			return nil
+		}
+		if atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&c.status, status, connStatusClosed) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 
 	_, err = c.conn.Write([]byte{'X', 0, 0, 0, 4})
@@ -893,10 +901,7 @@ func (c *Conn) waitForNotification(deadline time.Time) (*Notification, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) IsAlive() bool {
-	c.closingLock.Lock()
-	alive := c.alive
-	c.closingLock.Unlock()
-	return alive
+	return atomic.LoadInt32(&c.status) >= connStatusIdle
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) CauseOfDeath() error {
@@ -1071,12 +1076,9 @@ func (c *Conn) processContextFreeMsg(t byte, r *msgReader) (err error) {
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) rxMsg() (t byte, r *msgReader, err error) {
-	c.closingLock.Lock()
-	if !c.alive {
-		c.closingLock.Unlock()
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&c.status) < connStatusIdle {
 		return 0, nil, ErrDeadConn
 	}
-	c.closingLock.Unlock()
 
 	t, err = c.mr.rxMsg()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1261,25 +1263,23 @@ func (c *Conn) txPasswordMessage(password string) (err error) {
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) die(err error) {
-	c.alive = false
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&c.status, connStatusClosed)
 	c.causeOfDeath = err
 	c.conn.Close()
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) lock() error {
-	if c.busy {
-		return ErrConnBusy
+	if atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&c.status, connStatusIdle, connStatusBusy) {
+		return nil
 	}
-	c.busy = true
-	return nil
+	return ErrConnBusy
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) unlock() error {
-	if !c.busy {
-		return errors.New("unlock conn that is not busy")
+	if atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&c.status, connStatusBusy, connStatusIdle) {
+		return nil
 	}
-	c.busy = false
-	return nil
+	return errors.New("unlock conn that is not busy")
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) shouldLog(lvl int) bool {