diff --git a/pkg/sql/crdb_internal.go b/pkg/sql/crdb_internal.go
index 42b6cd886d87..1e5079c531c8 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/crdb_internal.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/crdb_internal.go
@@ -840,9 +840,14 @@ CREATE TABLE crdb_internal.schema_changes (
 	},
 }
 
+type crdbInternalLeasesTableEntry struct {
+	desc         catalog.Descriptor
+	takenOffline bool
+	expiration   tree.DTimestamp
+}
+
 // TODO(tbg): prefix with node_.
 var crdbInternalLeasesTable = virtualSchemaTable{
-	comment: `acquired table leases (RAM; local node only)`,
 	schema: `
 CREATE TABLE crdb_internal.leases (
   node_id     INT NOT NULL,
@@ -852,33 +857,45 @@ CREATE TABLE crdb_internal.leases (
   expiration  TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
   deleted     BOOL NOT NULL
 )`,
+	comment: `acquired table leases (RAM; local node only)`,
 	populate: func(
 		ctx context.Context, p *planner, _ catalog.DatabaseDescriptor, addRow func(...tree.Datum) error,
 	) error {
 		nodeID, _ := p.execCfg.NodeInfo.NodeID.OptionalNodeID() // zero if not available
-		var iterErr error
+		var leaseEntries []crdbInternalLeasesTableEntry
 		p.LeaseMgr().VisitLeases(func(desc catalog.Descriptor, takenOffline bool, _ int, expiration tree.DTimestamp) (wantMore bool) {
-			if ok, err := p.HasAnyPrivilege(ctx, desc); err != nil {
-				iterErr = err
-				return false
+			// Because we have locked the lease manager while visiting every lease,
+			// it not safe to *acquire* or *release* any leases in the process. As
+			// a result, build an in memory cache of entries and process them after
+			// all the locks have been released. Previously we would check privileges,
+			// which would need to get the lease on the role_member table. Simply skipping
+			// this check on that table will not be sufficient since any active lease
+			// on it could expire or need an renewal and cause the sample problem.
+			leaseEntries = append(leaseEntries, crdbInternalLeasesTableEntry{
+				desc:         desc,
+				takenOffline: takenOffline,
+				expiration:   expiration,
+			})
+			return true
+		})
+		for _, entry := range leaseEntries {
+			if ok, err := p.HasAnyPrivilege(ctx, entry.desc); err != nil {
+				return err
 			} else if !ok {
-				return true
+				continue
 			}
-
 			if err := addRow(
 				tree.NewDInt(tree.DInt(nodeID)),
-				tree.NewDInt(tree.DInt(int64(desc.GetID()))),
-				tree.NewDString(desc.GetName()),
-				tree.NewDInt(tree.DInt(int64(desc.GetParentID()))),
-				&expiration,
-				tree.MakeDBool(tree.DBool(takenOffline)),
+				tree.NewDInt(tree.DInt(int64(entry.desc.GetID()))),
+				tree.NewDString(entry.desc.GetName()),
+				tree.NewDInt(tree.DInt(int64(entry.desc.GetParentID()))),
+				&entry.expiration,
+				tree.MakeDBool(tree.DBool(entry.takenOffline)),
 			); err != nil {
-				iterErr = err
-				return false
+				return err
 			}
-			return true
-		})
-		return iterErr
+		}
+		return nil
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/crdb_internal b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/crdb_internal
index ff8a1cfa35e0..4adc6f177946 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/crdb_internal
+++ b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/crdb_internal
@@ -1417,3 +1417,18 @@ CREATE TABLE t76710_1 AS SELECT * FROM crdb_internal.statement_statistics;
 
 statement ok
 CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW t76710_2 AS SELECT fingerprint_id FROM crdb_internal.cluster_statement_statistics;
+
+# In #119253 we observed a deadlock when visiting leases inside crdb_internal.lease
+# between the lease manager and the authorization check for each descriptor. This
+# test validates that this is no longer the case.
+subtest allow_role_memberships_to_change_during_transaction
+
+user testuser
+
+statement ok
+set allow_role_memberships_to_change_during_transaction=true
+
+statement ok
+SELECT  * FROM crdb_internal.leases;
+
+subtest end