diff --git a/app/display/gimptoolpath.c b/app/display/gimptoolpath.c
index 027ef9486e..276057c601 100644
--- a/app/display/gimptoolpath.c
+++ b/app/display/gimptoolpath.c
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 
 #include "widgets/gimpwidgets-utils.h"
 
+#include "tools/gimptools-utils.h"
+
 #include "gimpcanvashandle.h"
 #include "gimpcanvasitem-utils.h"
 #include "gimpcanvasline.h"
@@ -492,6 +494,8 @@ static gboolean
 gimp_tool_path_check_writable (GimpToolPath *path)
 {
   GimpToolPathPrivate *private = path->private;
+  GimpToolWidget      *widget  = GIMP_TOOL_WIDGET (path);
+  GimpDisplayShell    *shell   = gimp_tool_widget_get_shell (widget);
 
   if (gimp_item_is_content_locked (GIMP_ITEM (private->vectors)) ||
       gimp_item_is_position_locked (GIMP_ITEM (private->vectors)))
@@ -499,6 +503,10 @@ gimp_tool_path_check_writable (GimpToolPath *path)
       gimp_tool_widget_set_status (GIMP_TOOL_WIDGET (path),
                                    _("The active path is locked."));
 
+      /* FIXME: this should really be done by the tool */
+      gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (shell->display->gimp,
+                                 GIMP_ITEM (private->vectors));
+
       private->function = VECTORS_FINISHED;
 
       return FALSE;
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpbucketfilltool.c b/app/tools/gimpbucketfilltool.c
index 31955f417f..bf0f0f243f 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpbucketfilltool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpbucketfilltool.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 #include "gimpbucketfilltool.h"
 #include "gimpcoloroptions.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -292,6 +293,8 @@ gimp_bucket_fill_tool_initialize (GimpTool     *tool,
     {
       g_set_error_literal (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
                            _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+      if (error)
+        gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
       return FALSE;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpcagetool.c b/app/tools/gimpcagetool.c
index c1065f5c39..9ebb124663 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpcagetool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpcagetool.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include "gimpcagetool.h"
 #include "gimpcageoptions.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -225,6 +226,8 @@ gimp_cage_tool_initialize (GimpTool     *tool,
     {
       g_set_error_literal (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
                            _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+      if (error)
+        gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
       return FALSE;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpcroptool.c b/app/tools/gimpcroptool.c
index bfb233b69d..40863f22f1 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpcroptool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpcroptool.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "gimpcroptool.h"
 #include "gimprectangleoptions.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -458,6 +459,8 @@ gimp_crop_tool_commit (GimpCropTool *crop_tool)
                 {
                   gimp_tool_message_literal (tool, tool->display,
                                              _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+                  gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (tool->display->gimp,
+                                             GIMP_ITEM (layer));
                   return;
                 }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpeditselectiontool.c b/app/tools/gimpeditselectiontool.c
index 3a5c0f33e4..a58a197e2c 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpeditselectiontool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpeditselectiontool.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include "gimpdrawtool.h"
 #include "gimpeditselectiontool.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 #include "tool_manager.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
@@ -1196,6 +1197,7 @@ gimp_edit_selection_tool_translate (GimpTool          *tool,
   else if (locked_message)
     {
       gimp_tool_message_literal (tool, display, locked_message);
+      gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, item);
       return TRUE;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpfiltertool.c b/app/tools/gimpfiltertool.c
index 068954b8b4..1b86469137 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpfiltertool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpfiltertool.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 #include "gimpfiltertool-widgets.h"
 #include "gimpguidetool.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 #include "tool_manager.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
@@ -273,6 +274,8 @@ gimp_filter_tool_initialize (GimpTool     *tool,
     {
       g_set_error_literal (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
                            _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+      if (error)
+        gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
       return FALSE;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpgradienttool.c b/app/tools/gimpgradienttool.c
index c3050ba2ad..741a68e22d 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpgradienttool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpgradienttool.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 #include "gimpgradienttool.h"
 #include "gimpgradienttool-editor.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -252,6 +253,8 @@ gimp_gradient_tool_initialize (GimpTool     *tool,
     {
       g_set_error_literal (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
                            _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+      if (error)
+        gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
       return FALSE;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpmovetool.c b/app/tools/gimpmovetool.c
index 393d51f903..afd2666c8b 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpmovetool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpmovetool.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include "gimpmoveoptions.h"
 #include "gimpmovetool.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -336,6 +337,7 @@ gimp_move_tool_button_press (GimpTool            *tool,
   else if (locked_message)
     {
       gimp_tool_message_literal (tool, display, locked_message);
+      gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, active_item);
       gimp_tool_control (tool, GIMP_TOOL_ACTION_HALT, display);
       return;
     }
diff --git a/app/tools/gimppainttool.c b/app/tools/gimppainttool.c
index 3b37769505..b303831019 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimppainttool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimppainttool.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "gimppainttool.h"
 #include "gimppainttool-paint.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ static GimpCanvasItem *
 
 static gboolean  gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (GimpPaintTool         *paint_tool,
                                               GimpDrawable          *drawable,
+                                              GimpDisplay           *display,
                                               GError               **error);
 
 static void   gimp_paint_tool_hard_notify    (GimpPaintOptions      *options,
@@ -282,10 +284,11 @@ gimp_paint_tool_button_press (GimpTool            *tool,
     {
       gimp_tool_message_literal (tool, display,
                                  _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+      gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
       return;
     }
 
-  if (! gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (paint_tool, drawable, &error))
+  if (! gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (paint_tool, drawable, display, &error))
     {
       GtkWidget *options_gui;
       GtkWidget *mode_box;
@@ -485,9 +488,9 @@ gimp_paint_tool_cursor_update (GimpTool         *tool,
       GimpImage    *image    = gimp_display_get_image (display);
       GimpDrawable *drawable = gimp_image_get_active_drawable (image);
 
-      if (gimp_viewable_get_children (GIMP_VIEWABLE (drawable))      ||
-          gimp_item_is_content_locked (GIMP_ITEM (drawable))         ||
-          ! gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (paint_tool, drawable, NULL) ||
+      if (gimp_viewable_get_children (GIMP_VIEWABLE (drawable))               ||
+          gimp_item_is_content_locked (GIMP_ITEM (drawable))                  ||
+          ! gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (paint_tool, drawable, display, NULL) ||
           ! gimp_item_is_visible (GIMP_ITEM (drawable)))
         {
           modifier        = GIMP_CURSOR_MODIFIER_BAD;
@@ -821,6 +824,7 @@ gimp_paint_tool_get_outline (GimpPaintTool *paint_tool,
 static gboolean
 gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (GimpPaintTool  *paint_tool,
                              GimpDrawable   *drawable,
+                             GimpDisplay    *display,
                              GError        **error)
 {
   GimpPaintToolClass *klass = GIMP_PAINT_TOOL_GET_CLASS (paint_tool);
@@ -843,6 +847,9 @@ gimp_paint_tool_check_alpha (GimpPaintTool  *paint_tool,
             error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
             _("The active layer's alpha channel is locked."));
 
+          if (error)
+            gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
+
           return FALSE;
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpselectiontool.c b/app/tools/gimpselectiontool.c
index bf75d9769f..96396091bd 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpselectiontool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpselectiontool.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "gimpselectiontool.h"
 #include "gimpselectionoptions.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -451,6 +452,9 @@ gimp_selection_tool_check (GimpSelectionTool  *sel_tool,
           g_set_error (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED,
                        _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
 
+          if (error)
+            gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
+
           return FALSE;
         }
       break;
diff --git a/app/tools/gimptransformtool.c b/app/tools/gimptransformtool.c
index 01237bad69..1f1744a6aa 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimptransformtool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimptransformtool.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "widgets/gimpwidgets-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 #include "gimptransformoptions.h"
 #include "gimptransformtool.h"
 
@@ -572,6 +573,8 @@ gimp_transform_tool_check_active_item (GimpTransformTool  *tr_tool,
   if (locked_message)
     {
       g_set_error_literal (error, GIMP_ERROR, GIMP_FAILED, locked_message);
+      if (error)
+        gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, item);
       return NULL;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/tools/gimpwarptool.c b/app/tools/gimpwarptool.c
index 513d60f2ff..e0f1e4e7fa 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpwarptool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpwarptool.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "gimpwarptool.h"
 #include "gimpwarpoptions.h"
 #include "gimptoolcontrol.h"
+#include "gimptools-utils.h"
 
 #include "gimp-intl.h"
 
@@ -629,6 +630,8 @@ gimp_warp_tool_can_stroke (GimpWarpTool *wt,
         {
           gimp_tool_message_literal (tool, display,
                                      _("The active layer's pixels are locked."));
+
+          gimp_tools_blink_lock_box (display->gimp, GIMP_ITEM (drawable));
         }
 
       return FALSE;