diff --git a/device/keypair.go b/device/keypair.go
index 9c78fa9..63fe506 100644
--- a/device/keypair.go
+++ b/device/keypair.go
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ package device
 import (
 	"crypto/cipher"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
+	"unsafe"
 
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/replay"
 )
@@ -35,7 +37,15 @@ type Keypairs struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
 	current  *Keypair
 	previous *Keypair
-	next     *Keypair
+	next     unsafe.Pointer // *Keypair, access via LoadNext/StoreNext
+}
+
+func (kp *Keypairs) StoreNext(next *Keypair) {
+	atomic.StorePointer(&kp.next, (unsafe.Pointer)(next))
+}
+
+func (kp *Keypairs) LoadNext() *Keypair {
+	return (*Keypair)(atomic.LoadPointer(&kp.next))
 }
 
 func (kp *Keypairs) Current() *Keypair {
diff --git a/device/noise-protocol.go b/device/noise-protocol.go
index 03b872b..c852ac6 100644
--- a/device/noise-protocol.go
+++ b/device/noise-protocol.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2s"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/chacha20poly1305"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/poly1305"
+
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/tai64n"
 )
 
@@ -583,12 +584,12 @@ func (peer *Peer) BeginSymmetricSession() error {
 	defer keypairs.Unlock()
 
 	previous := keypairs.previous
-	next := keypairs.next
+	next := keypairs.LoadNext()
 	current := keypairs.current
 
 	if isInitiator {
 		if next != nil {
-			keypairs.next = nil
+			keypairs.StoreNext(nil)
 			keypairs.previous = next
 			device.DeleteKeypair(current)
 		} else {
@@ -597,7 +598,7 @@ func (peer *Peer) BeginSymmetricSession() error {
 		device.DeleteKeypair(previous)
 		keypairs.current = keypair
 	} else {
-		keypairs.next = keypair
+		keypairs.StoreNext(keypair)
 		device.DeleteKeypair(next)
 		keypairs.previous = nil
 		device.DeleteKeypair(previous)
@@ -608,15 +609,19 @@ func (peer *Peer) BeginSymmetricSession() error {
 
 func (peer *Peer) ReceivedWithKeypair(receivedKeypair *Keypair) bool {
 	keypairs := &peer.keypairs
+
+	if keypairs.LoadNext() != receivedKeypair {
+		return false
+	}
 	keypairs.Lock()
 	defer keypairs.Unlock()
-	if keypairs.next != receivedKeypair {
+	if keypairs.LoadNext() != receivedKeypair {
 		return false
 	}
 	old := keypairs.previous
 	keypairs.previous = keypairs.current
 	peer.device.DeleteKeypair(old)
-	keypairs.current = keypairs.next
-	keypairs.next = nil
+	keypairs.current = keypairs.LoadNext()
+	keypairs.StoreNext(nil)
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/device/noise_test.go b/device/noise_test.go
index 6ba3f2e..6ee5f7b 100644
--- a/device/noise_test.go
+++ b/device/noise_test.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestNoiseHandshake(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("failed to derive keypair for peer 2", err)
 	}
 
-	key1 := peer1.keypairs.next
+	key1 := peer1.keypairs.LoadNext()
 	key2 := peer2.keypairs.current
 
 	// encrypting / decryption test
diff --git a/device/peer.go b/device/peer.go
index cb348d5..94182e7 100644
--- a/device/peer.go
+++ b/device/peer.go
@@ -226,10 +226,10 @@ func (peer *Peer) ZeroAndFlushAll() {
 	keypairs.Lock()
 	device.DeleteKeypair(keypairs.previous)
 	device.DeleteKeypair(keypairs.current)
-	device.DeleteKeypair(keypairs.next)
+	device.DeleteKeypair(keypairs.LoadNext())
 	keypairs.previous = nil
 	keypairs.current = nil
-	keypairs.next = nil
+	keypairs.StoreNext(nil)
 	keypairs.Unlock()
 
 	// clear handshake state
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ func (peer *Peer) ExpireCurrentKeypairs() {
 		keypairs.current.sendNonce = RejectAfterMessages
 	}
 	if keypairs.next != nil {
-		keypairs.next.sendNonce = RejectAfterMessages
+		keypairs.LoadNext().sendNonce = RejectAfterMessages
 	}
 	keypairs.Unlock()
 }