diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fb563189..16fc8538 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ The following table is a complete list. Some of the utilities may be installed b
 | mediainfo / exiftool | multimedia file details |
 | trash-cli | trash files (default action: delete) |
 | sshfs, fusermount(3) | mount, unmount remote over SSHFS |
-| vlock (Linux), bashlock (macOS), lock(1) (BSD) | terminal locker |
+| vlock (Linux), bashlock (macOS), lock(1) (BSD) | terminal locker (fallback: [pipes.sh](https://github.com/pipeseroni/pipes.sh)) |
 | advcpmv (Linux) ([integration](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/wiki/hacking-nnn#show-cp-mv-progress)) | copy, move progress |
 | `$VISUAL` (else `$EDITOR`), `$PAGER` (less, most), `$SHELL` | fallback vi, less, sh |
 
diff --git a/src/nnn.c b/src/nnn.c
index 6d953b84..7d514de0 100644
--- a/src/nnn.c
+++ b/src/nnn.c
@@ -4252,7 +4252,11 @@ nochange:
 			/* Locker */
 			if (idletimeout && idle == idletimeout) {
 				idle = 0;
-				spawn(utils[LOCKER], NULL, NULL, NULL, F_NORMAL);
+				tmp = utils[LOCKER];
+				if (!getutil(tmp))
+					tmp = "pipes.sh";
+
+				spawn(tmp, NULL, NULL, NULL, F_NORMAL);
 				if (ndents)
 					copycurname();
 				goto begin;