diff --git a/backend/backend.go b/backend/backend.go
index f67d60ab60..dfeb80ef6f 100644
--- a/backend/backend.go
+++ b/backend/backend.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/clistate"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/config/module"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/state"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/terraform"
@@ -135,6 +136,10 @@ type Operation struct {
 	// state.Lockers for its duration, and Unlock when complete.
 	LockState bool
 
+	// StateLocker is used to lock the state while providing UI feedback to the
+	// user. This will be supplied by the Backend itself.
+	StateLocker clistate.Locker
+
 	// The duration to retry obtaining a State lock.
 	StateLockTimeout time.Duration