diff --git a/c/driver/postgresql/database.cc b/c/driver/postgresql/database.cc
index a164473550..b416ee7c94 100644
--- a/c/driver/postgresql/database.cc
+++ b/c/driver/postgresql/database.cc
@@ -120,9 +120,10 @@ AdbcStatusCode PostgresDatabase::Init(struct AdbcError* error) {
 }
 
 AdbcStatusCode PostgresDatabase::Release(struct AdbcError* error) {
-  if (open_connections_ != 0) {
+  const int32_t open_connections = open_connections_;
+  if (open_connections != 0) {
     InternalAdbcSetError(error, "%s%" PRId32 "%s", "[libpq] Database released with ",
-                         open_connections_, " open connections");
+                         open_connections, " open connections");
     return ADBC_STATUS_INVALID_STATE;
   }
   return ADBC_STATUS_OK;
diff --git a/c/driver/postgresql/database.h b/c/driver/postgresql/database.h
index a608ef2d3d..5842a08f9c 100644
--- a/c/driver/postgresql/database.h
+++ b/c/driver/postgresql/database.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <array>
+#include <atomic>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ class PostgresDatabase {
   bool use_copy() const { return use_copy_; }
 
  private:
-  int32_t open_connections_;
+  std::atomic<int32_t> open_connections_;
   std::string uri_;
   std::shared_ptr<PostgresTypeResolver> type_resolver_;
   std::array<int, 3> postgres_server_version_{};