1. A method for executing locked-memory instructions, the method comprising: decoding a locked-memory instruction; obtaining exclusive ownership of a cacheline to be used by a load-lock operation; setting a bit to indicate the load-lock operation's ownership of the cacheline; modifying a load data value; storing the modified load data value; determining that the cacheline is still exclusively owned; storing the load data value; determining that the cacheline is unsnooped; merging the modified load data value with the load data value; and releasing the locked-memory instruction to be retired.