diff --git a/nomad/host_volume_endpoint.go b/nomad/host_volume_endpoint.go
index fcdd8c887b8..193d141ab59 100644
--- a/nomad/host_volume_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/host_volume_endpoint.go
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 package nomad
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/armon/go-metrics"
@@ -28,6 +30,9 @@ type HostVolume struct {
 	srv    *Server
 	ctx    *RPCContext
 	logger hclog.Logger
+
+	// volOps is used to serialize operations per volume ID
+	volOps sync.Map
 }
 
 func NewHostVolumeEndpoint(srv *Server, ctx *RPCContext) *HostVolume {
@@ -263,25 +268,31 @@ func (v *HostVolume) Create(args *structs.HostVolumeCreateRequest, reply *struct
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Attempt to create the volume on the client.
-	//
-	// NOTE: creating the volume on the client via the plugin can't be made
-	// atomic with the registration, and creating the volume provides values we
-	// want to write on the Volume in raft anyways.
-	err = v.createVolume(vol)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// serialize client RPC and raft write per volume ID
+	index, err := v.serializeCall(vol.ID, "create", func() (uint64, error) {
+		// Attempt to create the volume on the client.
+		//
+		// NOTE: creating the volume on the client via the plugin can't be made
+		// atomic with the registration, and creating the volume provides values
+		// we want to write on the Volume in raft anyways.
+		if err = v.createVolume(vol); err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
 
-	// Write a newly created or modified volume to raft. We create a new request
-	// here because we've likely mutated the volume.
-	_, index, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequestType,
-		&structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest{
-			Volume:       vol,
-			WriteRequest: args.WriteRequest,
-		})
+		// Write a newly created or modified volume to raft. We create a new
+		// request here because we've likely mutated the volume.
+		_, idx, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequestType,
+			&structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest{
+				Volume:       vol,
+				WriteRequest: args.WriteRequest,
+			})
+		if err != nil {
+			v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "register")
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		return idx, nil
+	})
 	if err != nil {
-		v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "register")
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -356,24 +367,30 @@ func (v *HostVolume) Register(args *structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest, reply *st
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Attempt to register the volume on the client.
-	//
-	// NOTE: registering the volume on the client via the plugin can't be made
-	// atomic with the registration.
-	err = v.registerVolume(vol)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// serialize client RPC and raft write per volume ID
+	index, err := v.serializeCall(vol.ID, "register", func() (uint64, error) {
+		// Attempt to register the volume on the client.
+		//
+		// NOTE: registering the volume on the client via the plugin can't be made
+		// atomic with the registration.
+		if err = v.registerVolume(vol); err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
 
-	// Write a newly created or modified volume to raft. We create a new request
-	// here because we've likely mutated the volume.
-	_, index, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequestType,
-		&structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest{
-			Volume:       vol,
-			WriteRequest: args.WriteRequest,
-		})
+		// Write a newly created or modified volume to raft. We create a new
+		// request here because we've likely mutated the volume.
+		_, idx, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequestType,
+			&structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest{
+				Volume:       vol,
+				WriteRequest: args.WriteRequest,
+			})
+		if err != nil {
+			v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "register")
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		return idx, nil
+	})
 	if err != nil {
-		v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "register")
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -608,8 +625,6 @@ func (v *HostVolume) Delete(args *structs.HostVolumeDeleteRequest, reply *struct
 		return fmt.Errorf("missing volume ID to delete")
 	}
 
-	var index uint64
-
 	snap, err := v.srv.State().Snapshot()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -631,14 +646,19 @@ func (v *HostVolume) Delete(args *structs.HostVolumeDeleteRequest, reply *struct
 		return fmt.Errorf("volume %s in use by allocations: %v", id, allocIDs)
 	}
 
-	err = v.deleteVolume(vol)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, index, err = v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeDeleteRequestType, args)
+	// serialize client RPC and raft write per volume ID
+	index, err := v.serializeCall(vol.ID, "delete", func() (uint64, error) {
+		if err := v.deleteVolume(vol); err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		_, idx, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.HostVolumeDeleteRequestType, args)
+		if err != nil {
+			v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "delete")
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		return idx, nil
+	})
 	if err != nil {
-		v.logger.Error("raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "delete")
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -665,3 +685,46 @@ func (v *HostVolume) deleteVolume(vol *structs.HostVolume) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// serializeCall serializes fn() per volume, so DHV plugins can assume that
+// Nomad will not run concurrent operations for the same volume, and for us
+// to avoid interleaving client RPCs with raft writes.
+// Concurrent calls should all run eventually (or timeout, or server shutdown),
+// but there is no guarantee that they will run in the order received.
+// The passed fn is expected to return a raft index and error.
+func (v *HostVolume) serializeCall(volumeID, op string, fn func() (uint64, error)) (uint64, error) {
+	timeout := 2 * time.Minute // 2x the client RPC timeout
+	for {
+		ctx, done := context.WithTimeout(v.srv.shutdownCtx, timeout)
+
+		loaded, occupied := v.volOps.LoadOrStore(volumeID, ctx)
+
+		if !occupied {
+			v.logger.Trace("HostVolume RPC running ", "operation", op)
+			// run the fn!
+			index, err := fn()
+
+			// done() must come after Delete, so that other unblocked requests
+			// will Store a fresh context when they continue.
+			v.volOps.Delete(volumeID)
+			done()
+
+			return index, err
+		}
+
+		// another one is running; wait for it to finish.
+		v.logger.Trace("HostVolume RPC waiting", "operation", op)
+
+		// cancel the tentative context; we'll use the one we pulled from
+		// volOps (set by another RPC call) instead.
+		done()
+
+		otherCtx := loaded.(context.Context)
+		select {
+		case <-otherCtx.Done():
+			continue
+		case <-v.srv.shutdownCh:
+			return 0, structs.ErrNoLeader
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/nomad/host_volume_endpoint_test.go b/nomad/host_volume_endpoint_test.go
index ae5bf08c924..7fbdd457e9b 100644
--- a/nomad/host_volume_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/nomad/host_volume_endpoint_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-set/v3"
 	msgpackrpc "github.com/hashicorp/net-rpc-msgpackrpc/v2"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/ci"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client"
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/version"
+	"github.com/shoenig/test"
 	"github.com/shoenig/test/must"
 	"github.com/shoenig/test/wait"
 )
@@ -763,6 +766,193 @@ func TestHostVolumeEndpoint_placeVolume(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestHostVolumeEndpoint_concurrency checks that create/register/delete RPC
+// calls can not run concurrently for a single volume.
+func TestHostVolumeEndpoint_concurrency(t *testing.T) {
+	ci.Parallel(t)
+
+	srv, cleanup := TestServer(t, func(c *Config) { c.NumSchedulers = 0 })
+	t.Cleanup(cleanup)
+	testutil.WaitForLeader(t, srv.RPC)
+
+	c, node := newMockHostVolumeClient(t, srv, "default")
+
+	vol := &structs.HostVolume{
+		Name:      "test-vol",
+		Namespace: "default",
+		NodeID:    node.ID,
+		PluginID:  "mkdir",
+		HostPath:  "/pretend/path",
+		RequestedCapabilities: []*structs.HostVolumeCapability{
+			{
+				AttachmentMode: structs.HostVolumeAttachmentModeFilesystem,
+				AccessMode:     structs.HostVolumeAccessModeSingleNodeWriter,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	wr := structs.WriteRequest{Region: srv.Region()}
+
+	// tell the mock client how it should respond to create calls
+	c.setCreate(&cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateResponse{
+		VolumeName: "test-vol",
+		HostPath:   "/pretend/path",
+	}, nil)
+
+	// create the volume for us to attempt concurrent operations on
+	cVol := vol.Copy() // copy because HostPath gets mutated
+	cVol.Parameters = map[string]string{"created": "initial"}
+	createReq := &structs.HostVolumeCreateRequest{
+		Volume:       cVol,
+		WriteRequest: wr,
+	}
+	var createResp structs.HostVolumeCreateResponse
+	must.NoError(t, srv.RPC("HostVolume.Create", createReq, &createResp))
+	got, err := srv.State().HostVolumeByID(nil, vol.Namespace, createResp.Volume.ID, false)
+	must.NoError(t, err)
+	must.Eq(t, map[string]string{"created": "initial"}, got.Parameters)
+
+	// warning: below here be (concurrency) dragons. if this test fails,
+	// it is rather difficult to troubleshoot. sorry!
+
+	// this is critical -- everything needs to use the same volume ID,
+	// because that's what the serialization is based on.
+	vol.ID = createResp.Volume.ID
+
+	// "create" volume #2 (same vol except for parameters)
+	cVol2 := vol.Copy()
+	cVol2.Parameters = map[string]string{"created": "again"}
+	// "register" volume
+	rVol := vol.Copy()
+	rVol.Parameters = map[string]string{"registered": "yup"}
+
+	// prepare the mock client to block its calls, and get a CancelFunc
+	// to make sure we don't get any deadlocked client RPCs.
+	cancelClientRPCBlocks, err := c.setBlockChan()
+	must.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// each operation goroutine will put its name in here when it completes,
+	// so we can wait until the whole RPC completes before checking state.
+	rpcDoneCh := make(chan string)
+	rpcDone := func(op string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		select {
+		case rpcDoneCh <- op:
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Errorf("timed out writing %q to rpcDoneCh", op)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// start all the RPCs concurrently
+	var funcs multierror.Group
+	// create
+	funcs.Go(func() error {
+		createReq = &structs.HostVolumeCreateRequest{
+			Volume:       cVol2,
+			WriteRequest: wr,
+		}
+		createResp = structs.HostVolumeCreateResponse{}
+		err := srv.RPC("HostVolume.Create", createReq, &createResp)
+		rpcDone("create")
+		return err
+	})
+	// register
+	funcs.Go(func() error {
+		registerReq := &structs.HostVolumeRegisterRequest{
+			Volume:       rVol,
+			WriteRequest: wr,
+		}
+		var registerResp structs.HostVolumeRegisterResponse
+		err := srv.RPC("HostVolume.Register", registerReq, &registerResp)
+		rpcDone("register")
+		return err
+	})
+	// delete
+	funcs.Go(func() error {
+		deleteReq := &structs.HostVolumeDeleteRequest{
+			VolumeID:     vol.ID,
+			WriteRequest: wr,
+		}
+		var deleteResp structs.HostVolumeDeleteResponse
+		err := srv.RPC("HostVolume.Delete", deleteReq, &deleteResp)
+		rpcDone("delete")
+		return err
+	})
+
+	// NOTE: below here, we avoid `must` methods, because a t.Fatal causes all
+	// the above goroutines to halt with confusing errors.
+
+	// keep track of which operations have completed
+	opSet := set.From([]string{"create", "register", "delete"})
+
+LOOP:
+	for {
+		if opSet.Empty() {
+			break // all done!
+		}
+
+		// unblock a client RPC; it will tell us which one it let through.
+		op, err := c.unblockCurrent()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("error unblocking client RPC: %v", err)
+			break
+		}
+
+		if !opSet.Remove(op) {
+			t.Errorf("mystery unblocked RPC operation: %q", op)
+			break
+		}
+
+		// make sure the server RPC has totally completed (and written state),
+		// and that the server RPC matches the unblocked client RPC.
+		select {
+		case serverOp := <-rpcDoneCh:
+			if serverOp != op {
+				t.Errorf("client RPC says %q; server RPC says %q", op, serverOp)
+				continue
+			}
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Error("timeout waiting for an RPC to finish")
+			break LOOP
+		}
+
+		// get the volume to check
+		got, err := srv.State().HostVolumeByID(nil, vol.Namespace, vol.ID, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("error reading state: %v", err)
+			break
+		}
+
+		switch op {
+
+		case "create":
+			if got == nil {
+				t.Error("volume should not be nil after create RPC")
+				continue
+			}
+			test.Eq(t, cVol2.Parameters, got.Parameters)
+
+		case "register":
+			if got == nil {
+				t.Error("volume should not be nil after register RPC")
+				continue
+			}
+			test.Eq(t, rVol.Parameters, got.Parameters)
+
+		case "delete":
+			test.Nil(t, got, test.Sprint(""))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// everything should be done by now, but just in case.
+	cancelClientRPCBlocks()
+
+	mErr := funcs.Wait()
+	test.NoError(t, helper.FlattenMultierror(mErr))
+
+	// all of 'em should have happened!
+	test.Eq(t, []string{}, opSet.Slice(), test.Sprint("remaining opSet should be empty"))
+}
+
 // mockHostVolumeClient models client RPCs that have side-effects on the
 // client host
 type mockHostVolumeClient struct {
@@ -771,6 +961,11 @@ type mockHostVolumeClient struct {
 	nextCreateErr      error
 	nextRegisterErr    error
 	nextDeleteErr      error
+	// blockChan is used to test server->client RPC serialization.
+	// do not block on this channel while the main lock is held.
+	blockChan chan string
+	// shutdownCtx is an escape hatch to release any/all blocked RPCs
+	shutdownCtx context.Context
 }
 
 // newMockHostVolumeClient configures a RPC-only Nomad test agent and returns a
@@ -822,6 +1017,11 @@ func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) setDelete(errMsg string) {
 func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) Create(
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest,
 	resp *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateResponse) error {
+
+	if err := v.block("create"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	v.lock.Lock()
 	defer v.lock.Unlock()
 	if v.nextCreateResponse == nil {
@@ -834,6 +1034,11 @@ func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) Create(
 func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) Register(
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeRegisterRequest,
 	resp *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeRegisterResponse) error {
+
+	if err := v.block("register"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	v.lock.Lock()
 	defer v.lock.Unlock()
 	*resp = cstructs.ClientHostVolumeRegisterResponse{}
@@ -843,7 +1048,62 @@ func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) Register(
 func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) Delete(
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest,
 	resp *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteResponse) error {
+
+	if err := v.block("delete"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	v.lock.Lock()
 	defer v.lock.Unlock()
 	return v.nextDeleteErr
 }
+
+func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) setBlockChan() (context.CancelFunc, error) {
+	v.lock.Lock()
+	defer v.lock.Unlock()
+	if v.blockChan != nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("blockChan already set")
+	}
+	v.blockChan = make(chan string) // no buffer to ensure blockage
+	// timeout context to ensure blockage is not endless
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	v.shutdownCtx = ctx
+	return cancel, nil
+}
+
+func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) getBlockChan() chan string {
+	v.lock.Lock()
+	defer v.lock.Unlock()
+	return v.blockChan
+}
+
+// block stalls the RPC until something (a test) runs unblockCurrent,
+// if something (a test) had previously run setBlockChan to set it up.
+func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) block(op string) error {
+	bc := v.getBlockChan()
+	if bc == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	select {
+	case bc <- op:
+		return nil
+	case <-v.shutdownCtx.Done():
+		// if this happens, it'll be because unblockCurrent was not run enough
+		return fmt.Errorf("shutdownCtx done before blockChan unblocked: %w", v.shutdownCtx.Err())
+	}
+}
+
+// unblockCurrent reads from blockChan to unblock a running RPC.
+// it must be run once per RPC that is started.
+func (v *mockHostVolumeClient) unblockCurrent() (string, error) {
+	bc := v.getBlockChan()
+	if bc == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("no blockChan")
+	}
+	select {
+	case current := <-bc:
+		return current, nil
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		return "", errors.New("unblockCurrent timeout")
+	}
+}