grant select on gv_$instance returns ORA-04021

In version 11.2.0.4, connected as SYSDBA:

SQL> GRANT SELECT ON sys.gv_$instance TO user;

GRANT SELECT ON sys.gv_$instance TO user

                    *

ERROR at line 1:

ORA-04021: timeout occurred while waiting to lock object

This is happening in just 4 of my instances.  However, one of those is not currently in use!