diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
index e3ca596c5..c1c71333f 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func runRecover(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions, term *termstatus.Termi
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ctx, repo, unlock, err := openWithAppendLock(ctx, gopts, false)
+	ctx, repo, unlock, err := openWithExclusiveLock(ctx, gopts, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ func runRecover(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions, term *termstatus.Termi
 		return err
 	}
 
+	printer.P("ensuring index is complete\n")
+	err = repository.RepairIndex(ctx, repo, repository.RepairIndexOptions{}, printer)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	printer.P("load index files\n")
 	bar := newIndexTerminalProgress(gopts.Quiet, gopts.JSON, term)
 	if err = repo.LoadIndex(ctx, bar); err != nil {