diff --git a/debug.cc b/debug.cc
index fac4aec30f..ad1f5f29c2 100644
--- a/debug.cc
+++ b/debug.cc
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@
 
 namespace debug {
 
-seastar::sharded<replica::database>* the_database = nullptr;
+seastar::sharded<replica::database>* volatile the_database = nullptr;
 
 }
diff --git a/debug.hh b/debug.hh
index b0874e1959..39f9ff84eb 100644
--- a/debug.hh
+++ b/debug.hh
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class database;
 
 namespace debug {
 
-extern seastar::sharded<replica::database>* the_database;
+extern seastar::sharded<replica::database>* volatile the_database;
 
 
 }