diff --git a/src/networking.cpp b/src/networking.cpp
index 1c3e528c5..d843e8d99 100644
--- a/src/networking.cpp
+++ b/src/networking.cpp
@@ -258,20 +258,22 @@ int prepareClientToWrite(client *c) {
 		serverAssert(GlobalLocksAcquired());
 	}
 
-    if (c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_REPLY) return C_OK; // FORCE REPLY means we're doing something else with the buffer.
+    auto flags = c->flags.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+
+    if (flags & CLIENT_FORCE_REPLY) return C_OK; // FORCE REPLY means we're doing something else with the buffer.
                                                 // do not install a write handler
 
     /* If it's the Lua client we always return ok without installing any
      * handler since there is no socket at all. */
-    if (c->flags & (CLIENT_LUA|CLIENT_MODULE)) return C_OK;
+    if (flags & (CLIENT_LUA|CLIENT_MODULE)) return C_OK;
 
     /* CLIENT REPLY OFF / SKIP handling: don't send replies. */
-    if (c->flags & (CLIENT_REPLY_OFF|CLIENT_REPLY_SKIP)) return C_ERR;
+    if (flags & (CLIENT_REPLY_OFF|CLIENT_REPLY_SKIP)) return C_ERR;
 
     /* Masters don't receive replies, unless CLIENT_MASTER_FORCE_REPLY flag
      * is set. */
-    if ((c->flags & CLIENT_MASTER) &&
-        !(c->flags & CLIENT_MASTER_FORCE_REPLY)) return C_ERR;
+    if ((flags & CLIENT_MASTER) &&
+        !(flags & CLIENT_MASTER_FORCE_REPLY)) return C_ERR;
 
     if (!c->conn) return C_ERR; /* Fake client for AOF loading. */