diff --git a/ompi/mca/btl/scif/btl_scif.h b/ompi/mca/btl/scif/btl_scif.h
index 6922a1a53b..c5ba1267eb 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/btl/scif/btl_scif.h
+++ b/ompi/mca/btl/scif/btl_scif.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ typedef struct mca_btl_scif_module_t {
 
     pthread_t listen_thread;
 
-    bool exiting;
+    volatile bool exiting;
 } mca_btl_scif_module_t;
 
 typedef struct mca_btl_scif_component_t {