diff --git a/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/JdbLockTest.java b/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/JdbLockTest.java
index 3a9f7c76ac3..ef6c49210e6 100644
--- a/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/JdbLockTest.java
+++ b/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/JdbLockTest.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class JdbLockTestTarg {
 }
 
 class Sleeper implements Runnable {
-    public static int started = 0;
+    public static volatile int started = 0;
     public void run() {
         started = 1;
         System.out.println("     sleeper starts sleeping");