diff --git a/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.h b/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.h
index b40e6714cdff..b573824f6206 100644
--- a/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.h
+++ b/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.h
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class TrackedMetalBuffer {
     Type mType = Type::NONE;
 
     static PlatformMetal* platform;
-    static std::array<uint64_t, TypeCount> aliveBuffers;
+    static std::array<std::atomic<uint64_t>, TypeCount> aliveBuffers;
 };
 
 class MetalBuffer {
diff --git a/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.mm b/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.mm
index cadf7484d03c..5e84db11294b 100644
--- a/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.mm
+++ b/filament/backend/src/metal/MetalBuffer.mm
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 namespace filament {
 namespace backend {
 
-std::array<uint64_t, TrackedMetalBuffer::TypeCount> TrackedMetalBuffer::aliveBuffers = { 0 };
+std::array<std::atomic<uint64_t>, TrackedMetalBuffer::TypeCount> TrackedMetalBuffer::aliveBuffers = { 0 };
 PlatformMetal* TrackedMetalBuffer::platform = nullptr;
 PlatformMetal* ScopedAllocationTimer::platform = nullptr;