diff --git a/Lib/posixfile.py b/Lib/posixfile.py
index f0df5433aa0..fc5f53fe2ca 100644
--- a/Lib/posixfile.py
+++ b/Lib/posixfile.py
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ def lock(self, how, *args):
             elif sys.platform in ['aix3', 'aix4']:
                 l_type, l_whence, l_start, l_len, l_sysid, l_pid, l_vfs = \
                     struct.unpack('hhlllii', flock)
+	    elif sys.platform == "linux2":
+		l_type, l_whence, l_start, l_len, l_pid, l_sysid = \
+		    struct.unpack('hhllhh', flock)
 	    else:
 		l_type, l_whence, l_start, l_len, l_sysid, l_pid = \
 		    struct.unpack('hhllhh', flock)