diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index a5c426db41..bb7e57a7eb 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -263,11 +263,13 @@ void MyAvatar::setDominantHand(const QString& hand) {
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::requestDisableHandTouch() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(_disableHandTouchMutex);
     _disableHandTouchCount++;
     emit shouldDisableHandTouchChanged(_disableHandTouchCount > 0);
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::requestEnableHandTouch() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(_disableHandTouchMutex);
     _disableHandTouchCount = std::max(_disableHandTouchCount - 1, 0);
     emit shouldDisableHandTouchChanged(_disableHandTouchCount > 0);
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 6a1b889f86..d3b9eef2de 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -1666,6 +1666,7 @@ private:
     // all poses are in sensor-frame
     std::map<controller::Action, controller::Pose> _controllerPoseMap;
     mutable std::mutex _controllerPoseMapMutex;
+    mutable std::mutex _disableHandTouchMutex;
 
     bool _centerOfGravityModelEnabled { true };
     bool _hmdLeanRecenterEnabled { true };
@@ -1706,7 +1707,7 @@ private:
     bool _shouldLoadScripts { false };
 
     bool _haveReceivedHeightLimitsFromDomain { false };
-    std::atomic<int> _disableHandTouchCount { 0 };
+    int _disableHandTouchCount { 0 };
 };
 
 QScriptValue audioListenModeToScriptValue(QScriptEngine* engine, const AudioListenerMode& audioListenerMode);