diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
index e9ea6335d2..597c616fe9 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
@@ -952,23 +952,10 @@ void qt_qhostinfo_cache_inject(const QString &hostname, const QHostInfo &resolut
 QHostInfoCache::QHostInfoCache() : max_age(60), enabled(true), cache(128)
 {
 #ifdef QT_QHOSTINFO_CACHE_DISABLED_BY_DEFAULT
-    enabled = false;
+    enabled.store(false, std::memory_order_relaxed);
 #endif
 }
 
-bool QHostInfoCache::isEnabled()
-{
-    return enabled;
-}
-
-// this function is currently only used for the auto tests
-// and not usable by public API
-void QHostInfoCache::setEnabled(bool e)
-{
-    enabled = e;
-}
-
-
 QHostInfo QHostInfoCache::get(const QString &name, bool *valid)
 {
     QMutexLocker locker(&this->mutex);
diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
index 8cce302166..8898d6ff50 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
 #include <QNetworkSession>
 #include <QSharedPointer>
 
+#include <atomic>
 
 QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
 
@@ -176,10 +177,12 @@ public:
     void put(const QString &name, const QHostInfo &info);
     void clear();
 
-    bool isEnabled();
-    void setEnabled(bool e);
+    bool isEnabled() { return enabled.load(std::memory_order_relaxed); }
+    // this function is currently only used for the auto tests
+    // and not usable by public API
+    void setEnabled(bool e) { enabled.store(e, std::memory_order_relaxed); }
 private:
-    bool enabled;
+    std::atomic<bool> enabled;
     struct QHostInfoCacheElement {
         QHostInfo info;
         QElapsedTimer age;