diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a019929..a4e2c02 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # charmander (10nov03)
 # doduo (04jan04) - 0.9
 # eevee (08mar04)
-# fearow (???)
+# fearow (23apr04)
 
 release:
 	python ./setup.py sdist --formats=zip
diff --git a/README b/README
index 8a74da1..3332463 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 paramiko 0.9
-"fearow" release, 10 apr 2004
+"fearow" release, 23 apr 2004
 
 Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>
 
diff --git a/paramiko/__init__.py b/paramiko/__init__.py
index 0c7cec0..d39f762 100644
--- a/paramiko/__init__.py
+++ b/paramiko/__init__.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ if sys.version_info < (2, 2):
 
 
 __author__ = "Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>"
-__date__ = "10 Apr 2004"
+__date__ = "23 Apr 2004"
 __version__ = "0.9-fearow"
 #__credits__ = "Huzzah!"
 __license__ = "GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)"
diff --git a/paramiko/channel.py b/paramiko/channel.py
index 2a7bd20..b339f31 100644
--- a/paramiko/channel.py
+++ b/paramiko/channel.py
@@ -725,8 +725,12 @@ class Channel (object):
 
     def _set_closed(self):
         self.closed = True
-        self.in_buffer_cv.notifyAll()
-        self.out_buffer_cv.notifyAll()
+        try:
+            self.lock.acquire()
+            self.in_buffer_cv.notifyAll()
+            self.out_buffer_cv.notifyAll()
+        finally:
+            self.lock.release()
 
     def _send_eof(self):
         if self.eof_sent:
diff --git a/paramiko/common.py b/paramiko/common.py
index c9d5558..0c565e4 100644
--- a/paramiko/common.py
+++ b/paramiko/common.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ from Crypto.Util.randpool import PersistentRandomPool, RandomPool
 
 # keep a crypto-strong PRNG nearby
 try:
-    randpool = PersistentRandomPool(os.getenv('HOME') + '/.randpool')
+    randpool = PersistentRandomPool(os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '/.randpool'))
 except:
     # the above will likely fail on Windows - fall back to non-persistent random pool
     randpool = RandomPool()