diff --git a/Python/parking_lot.c b/Python/parking_lot.c
index d5877fef56e..b368b500ccd 100644
--- a/Python/parking_lot.c
+++ b/Python/parking_lot.c
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@ _PySemaphore_Wait(_PySemaphore *sema, PyTime_t timeout, int detach)
     PyThreadState *tstate = NULL;
     if (detach) {
         tstate = _PyThreadState_GET();
-        if (tstate && tstate->state == _Py_THREAD_ATTACHED) {
+        if (tstate && _Py_atomic_load_int_relaxed(&tstate->state) ==
+                          _Py_THREAD_ATTACHED) {
             // Only detach if we are attached
             PyEval_ReleaseThread(tstate);
         }
diff --git a/Python/pystate.c b/Python/pystate.c
index 06806bd75fb..bca28cebcc9 100644
--- a/Python/pystate.c
+++ b/Python/pystate.c
@@ -2096,7 +2096,7 @@ _PyThreadState_Suspend(PyThreadState *tstate)
 {
     _PyRuntimeState *runtime = &_PyRuntime;
 
-    assert(tstate->state == _Py_THREAD_ATTACHED);
+    assert(_Py_atomic_load_int_relaxed(&tstate->state) == _Py_THREAD_ATTACHED);
 
     struct _stoptheworld_state *stw = NULL;
     HEAD_LOCK(runtime);