diff --git a/Lib/asyncio/locks.py b/Lib/asyncio/locks.py
index c59ea15111bef2..13ab04ac4e8488 100644
--- a/Lib/asyncio/locks.py
+++ b/Lib/asyncio/locks.py
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ def __repr__(self):
         return f'<{res[1:-1]} [{extra}]>'
 
     def locked(self):
-        """Return True if lock is acquired."""
-        return self._locked
+        """Return True if lock is acquired or if there are active waiters."""
+        return self._locked or self._waiters
 
     async def acquire(self):
         """Acquire a lock.
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_locks.py b/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_locks.py
index 320a933e144813..1b2701307d94d1 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_locks.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_locks.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ async def lockit(name, blocker):
         tb.cancel()
         self.assertTrue(lock._waiters[0].cancelled())
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        self.assertFalse(lock.locked())
+        self.assertTrue(lock.locked())
         self.assertTrue(ta.done())
         self.assertTrue(tb.cancelled())
         await tc
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-18-15-06-03.gh-issue-138121.A5NY2o.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-18-15-06-03.gh-issue-138121.A5NY2o.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..cc3c19595ae7b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-18-15-06-03.gh-issue-138121.A5NY2o.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+:meth:`asyncio.Lock.locked` now returns ``True`` when it has active waiters. Contributed by Emerson Beckwith.