diff --git a/apps/backend/backend_get.c b/apps/backend/backend_get.c
index 54042985..1d814516 100644
--- a/apps/backend/backend_get.c
+++ b/apps/backend/backend_get.c
@@ -592,16 +592,11 @@ get_list_pagination(clicon_handle        h,
 #endif
     }
     else {/* Check if running locked (by this session) */
-	if ((iddb = xmldb_islocked(h, PAGINATE_STATE_LOCK)) != 0){
-	    if (iddb == ce->ce_id)
-		locked = 1;
-	    else
-		locked = 0;
-	}
-	else {
-	    xmldb_lock(h, PAGINATE_STATE_LOCK, ce->ce_id);
+	if ((iddb = xmldb_islocked(h, "running")) != 0 &&
+	    iddb == ce->ce_id)
 	    locked = 1;
-	}
+	else
+	    locked = 0;
 	if ((ret = clixon_pagination_cb_call(h, xpath, locked,
 					     offset, limit,
 					     xret)) < 0)
diff --git a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_plugin.h b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_plugin.h
index c6ab9177..f88bb41f 100644
--- a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_plugin.h
+++ b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_plugin.h
@@ -38,11 +38,6 @@
 #ifndef _CLIXON_BACKEND_PLUGIN_H_
 #define _CLIXON_BACKEND_PLUGIN_H_
 
-/*
- * Constants
- */
-#define PAGINATE_STATE_LOCK "paginate-state-lock"
-
 /*
  * Types
  */
diff --git a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_transaction.c b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_transaction.c
index 7c718a63..0a7889ce 100644
--- a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_transaction.c
+++ b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_transaction.c
@@ -309,16 +309,15 @@ pagination_limit(pagination_data pd)
     return ((pagination_data_t *)pd)->pd_limit;
 }
 
-/*! Get pagination data: locked parameter for state data
+/*! Get pagination data: locked parameter
  *
- * A "paginate" lock is set for a specific session when list-pagination is in progress.
- * If locking is set, the pagination is part of a session transaction and the plugin may 
- * cache state (such as a cache) and can expect more pagination calls until the "paginate"
- * db-lock is released.
- *
- * If you want to do the same for config data, it is recommended to use lock-db on
- * the appropriate database, but this risks of indefinite blocking, as long as the
- * session endures.
+ * Pagination can use a lock/transaction mechanism 
+ * If locking is not used, the plugin cannot expect more pagination calls, and no state or 
+ * caching should be used
+ * If locking is used, the pagination is part of a session transaction and the plugin may cache
+ * state (such as a cache) and can expect more pagination calls until the running db-lock is 
+ * released, (see ca_lockdb)
+ * The transaction is the regular lock/unlock db of running-db of a specific session.
  * @param[in]  pd     Pagination userdata
  * @retval     locked 0: unlocked/stateless 1: locked by this caller
  */
diff --git a/apps/cli/cli_show.c b/apps/cli/cli_show.c
index 6f7f26a0..07ba04ec 100644
--- a/apps/cli/cli_show.c
+++ b/apps/cli/cli_show.c
@@ -919,6 +919,7 @@ cli_pagination(clicon_handle h,
     uint32_t         limit = 0;
     cxobj          **xvec = NULL;
     size_t           xlen;
+    int              locked = 0;
     
     if (cvec_len(argv) != 5){
 	clicon_err(OE_PLUGIN, 0, "Expected usage: <xpath> <prefix> <namespace> <format> <limit>");
@@ -948,6 +949,9 @@ cli_pagination(clicon_handle h,
     }
     if ((nsc = xml_nsctx_init(prefix, namespace)) == NULL)
 	goto done;
+    if (clicon_rpc_lock(h, "running") < 0)
+	goto done;
+    locked++;
     for (i = 0;; i++){
 	if (clicon_rpc_get_pageable_list(h, "running", xpath, nsc,
 					 CONTENT_ALL,
@@ -1000,6 +1004,8 @@ cli_pagination(clicon_handle h,
     } /* for i */
     retval = 0;
  done:
+    if (locked)
+	clicon_rpc_unlock(h, "running");
     if (xvec)
 	free(xvec);
     if (xret)
diff --git a/example/main/example_backend.c b/example/main/example_backend.c
index 6d5655d2..947d9d70 100644
--- a/example/main/example_backend.c
+++ b/example/main/example_backend.c
@@ -545,7 +545,6 @@ example_statefile(clicon_handle     h,
  * @param[in]  xpath    Registered XPath using canonical prefixes
  * @param[in]  userargs Per-call user arguments
  * @param[in]  arg      Per-path user argument
- * @see example_lockdb
  */
 int 
 example_pagination(void            *h0,
@@ -668,7 +667,7 @@ example_lockdb(clicon_handle h,
 
     /* Part of cached pagination example
      */
-    if (strcmp(db, PAGINATE_STATE_LOCK) == 0 && lock == 0 &&
+    if (strcmp(db, "running") == 0 && lock == 0 &&
 	_state && _state_file && _state_file_cached && _state_file_transaction){
 	if (_state_xml_cache){
 	    xml_free(_state_xml_cache);