diff --git a/Dalamud.DrunkenToad/Helpers/PluginInstanceLock.cs b/Dalamud.DrunkenToad/Helpers/PluginInstanceLock.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14011aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dalamud.DrunkenToad/Helpers/PluginInstanceLock.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+namespace Dalamud.DrunkenToad.Helpers;
+
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using Core;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Provides functionality to acquire and release a lock file, allowing features to be restricted to a single instance of the plugin.
+/// </summary>
+public static class PluginInstanceLock
+{
+    private static FileStream? lockFile;
+    private static string? lockFilePath;
+    private static bool isInitialized;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Acquires a lock to prevent multiple instances of the plugin from running.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <returns>True if the lock was acquired successfully; otherwise, false.</returns>
+    public static bool AcquireLock()
+    {
+        Initialize();
+        if (TryDeleteExistingLockFile())
+        {
+            return TryCreateAndLockFile();
+        }
+
+        DalamudContext.PluginLog.Warning("Failed to delete existing lock file. Another instance might be running.");
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Releases the lock.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static void ReleaseLock() => UnlockAndDisposeFile();
+
+    private static void Initialize()
+    {
+        if (isInitialized)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        lockFilePath = Path.Combine(DalamudContext.PluginInterface.GetPluginConfigDirectory(), "lockfile");
+        isInitialized = true;
+    }
+
+    private static bool TryDeleteExistingLockFile()
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(lockFilePath))
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            File.Delete(lockFilePath);
+            DalamudContext.PluginLog.Debug("Existing lock file deleted.");
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch (IOException)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static bool TryCreateAndLockFile()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            lockFile = new FileStream(lockFilePath!, FileMode.OpenOrCreate, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None, 4096, FileOptions.DeleteOnClose);
+            lockFile.Lock(0, 0);
+            DalamudContext.PluginLog.Debug("Instance is running. Lock acquired.");
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch (IOException)
+        {
+            DalamudContext.PluginLog.Warning("Another instance is already running.");
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void UnlockAndDisposeFile()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            if (lockFile == null)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            lockFile.Unlock(0, 0);
+            lockFile.Close();
+            lockFile.Dispose();
+            DalamudContext.PluginLog.Debug("Lock released and lock file deleted.");
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            DalamudContext.PluginLog.Warning($"Error releasing lock file: {ex.Message}");
+        }
+    }
+}