diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/event/impl/CoreEventDispatcher.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/event/impl/CoreEventDispatcher.java
index 80f9751..1647eff 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/event/impl/CoreEventDispatcher.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/event/impl/CoreEventDispatcher.java
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     private static final Event KILL_PILL = new AbstractEvent(null, 0) {
     };
 
-    private DispatchLoop dispatchLoop;
+    private volatile DispatchLoop dispatchLoop;
     private long maxProcessMillis = DEFAULT_EXECUTE_MS;
 
     // Means to detect long-running sinks