diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 0e9ea7ac92c4..2d894b277cf5 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1882,7 +1882,7 @@ bool AppInit2()
             }
             LogPrintf("Rescan completed in %15dms\n", GetTimeMillis() - nWalletRescanTime);
             pwalletMain->SetBestChain(chainActive.GetLocator());
-            nWalletDBUpdated++;
+            CWalletDB::IncrementUpdateCounter();
 
             // Restore wallet transaction metadata after -zapwallettxes=1
             if (GetBoolArg("-zapwallettxes", false) && GetArg("-zapwallettxes", "1") != "2") {
diff --git a/src/wallet/db.cpp b/src/wallet/db.cpp
index bb2742b79fe4..a7573ad0753e 100644
--- a/src/wallet/db.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/db.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 
 
 
-unsigned int nWalletDBUpdated;
-
-
 //
 // CDB
 //
diff --git a/src/wallet/db.h b/src/wallet/db.h
index 1f0782207bac..3ddcce4f553f 100644
--- a/src/wallet/db.h
+++ b/src/wallet/db.h
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ class COutPoint;
 
 struct CBlockLocator;
 
-extern unsigned int nWalletDBUpdated;
-
-void ThreadFlushWalletDB(const std::string& strWalletFile);
-
-
 class CDBEnv
 {
 private:
diff --git a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
index e206db5dddbd..eae496a19b7d 100644
--- a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "wallet/wallet.h"
 #include <zpiv/deterministicmint.h>
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
 #include <boost/thread.hpp>
 #include <fstream>
@@ -26,13 +27,15 @@
 
 static uint64_t nAccountingEntryNumber = 0;
 
+static std::atomic<unsigned int> nWalletDBUpdateCounter;
+
 //
 // CWalletDB
 //
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteName(const std::string& strAddress, const std::string& strName)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("name"), strAddress), strName);
 }
 
@@ -40,37 +43,37 @@ bool CWalletDB::EraseName(const std::string& strAddress)
 {
     // This should only be used for sending addresses, never for receiving addresses,
     // receiving addresses must always have an address book entry if they're not change return.
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("name"), strAddress));
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WritePurpose(const std::string& strAddress, const std::string& strPurpose)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("purpose"), strAddress), strPurpose);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::ErasePurpose(const std::string& strPurpose)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("purpose"), strPurpose));
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteTx(const CWalletTx& wtx)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("tx"), wtx.GetHash()), wtx);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::EraseTx(uint256 hash)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("tx"), hash));
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteKey(const CPubKey& vchPubKey, const CPrivKey& vchPrivKey, const CKeyMetadata& keyMeta)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
 
     if (!Write(std::make_pair(std::string("keymeta"), vchPubKey),
             keyMeta, false))
@@ -90,7 +93,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteCryptedKey(const CPubKey& vchPubKey,
     const CKeyMetadata& keyMeta)
 {
     const bool fEraseUnencryptedKey = true;
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
 
     if (!Write(std::make_pair(std::string("keymeta"), vchPubKey),
             keyMeta))
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteSaplingZKey(const libzcash::SaplingIncomingViewingKey &ivk,
                                  const libzcash::SaplingExtendedSpendingKey &key,
                                  const CKeyMetadata &keyMeta)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
 
     if (!Write(std::make_pair(std::string("sapzkeymeta"), ivk), keyMeta))
         return false;
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteSaplingPaymentAddress(
         const libzcash::SaplingPaymentAddress &addr,
         const libzcash::SaplingIncomingViewingKey &ivk)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
 
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("sapzaddr"), addr), ivk, false);
 }
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteCryptedSaplingZKey(
         const CKeyMetadata &keyMeta)
 {
     const bool fEraseUnencryptedKey = true;
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     auto ivk = extfvk.fvk.in_viewing_key();
 
     if (!Write(std::make_pair(std::string("sapzkeymeta"), ivk), keyMeta))
@@ -149,43 +152,43 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteCryptedSaplingZKey(
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteMasterKey(unsigned int nID, const CMasterKey& kMasterKey)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("mkey"), nID), kMasterKey, true);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteCScript(const uint160& hash, const CScript& redeemScript)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("cscript"), hash), *(const CScriptBase*)(&redeemScript), false);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteWatchOnly(const CScript& dest)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("watchs"), *(const CScriptBase*)(&dest)), '1');
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::EraseWatchOnly(const CScript& dest)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("watchs"), *(const CScriptBase*)(&dest)));
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteMultiSig(const CScript& dest)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("multisig"), *(const CScriptBase*)(&dest)), '1');
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::EraseMultiSig(const CScript& dest)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("multisig"), *(const CScriptBase*)(&dest)));
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteBestBlock(const CBlockLocator& locator)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     Write(std::string("bestblock"), CBlockLocator()); // Write empty block locator so versions that require a merkle branch automatically rescan
     return Write(std::string("bestblock_nomerkle"), locator);
 }
@@ -198,25 +201,25 @@ bool CWalletDB::ReadBestBlock(CBlockLocator& locator)
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteOrderPosNext(int64_t nOrderPosNext)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::string("orderposnext"), nOrderPosNext);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteStakeSplitThreshold(const CAmount& nStakeSplitThreshold)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::string("stakeSplitThreshold"), nStakeSplitThreshold);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteUseCustomFee(bool fUse)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::string("fUseCustomFee"), fUse);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteCustomFeeValue(const CAmount& nFee)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::string("nCustomFee"), nFee);
 }
 
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteMultiSend(std::vector<std::pair<std::string, int> > vMultiS
 {
     return false;
     /* disable multisend
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     bool ret = true;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < vMultiSend.size(); i++) {
         std::pair<std::string, int> pMultiSend;
@@ -240,7 +243,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::EraseMultiSend(std::vector<std::pair<std::string, int> > vMultiS
 {
     return false;
     /* disable multisend
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     bool ret = true;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < vMultiSend.size(); i++) {
         std::pair<std::string, int> pMultiSend;
@@ -256,7 +259,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteMSettings(bool fMultiSendStake, bool fMultiSendMasternode,
 {
     return false;
     /* disable multisend
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     std::pair<bool, bool> enabledMS(fMultiSendStake, fMultiSendMasternode);
     std::pair<std::pair<bool, bool>, int> pSettings(enabledMS, nLastMultiSendHeight);
 
@@ -268,7 +271,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteMSDisabledAddresses(std::vector<std::string> vDisabledAddre
 {
     return false;
     /* disable multisend
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     bool ret = true;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < vDisabledAddresses.size(); i++) {
         if (!Write(std::make_pair(std::string("mdisabled"), i), vDisabledAddresses[i]))
@@ -282,7 +285,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::EraseMSDisabledAddresses(std::vector<std::string> vDisabledAddre
 {
     return false;
     /* disable multisend
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     bool ret = true;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < vDisabledAddresses.size(); i++) {
         if (!Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("mdisabled"), i)))
@@ -294,7 +297,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::EraseMSDisabledAddresses(std::vector<std::string> vDisabledAddre
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteAutoCombineSettings(bool fEnable, CAmount nCombineThreshold)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     std::pair<bool, CAmount> pSettings;
     pSettings.first = fEnable;
     pSettings.second = nCombineThreshold;
@@ -308,13 +311,13 @@ bool CWalletDB::ReadPool(int64_t nPool, CKeyPool& keypool)
 
 bool CWalletDB::WritePool(int64_t nPool, const CKeyPool& keypool)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("pool"), nPool), keypool);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::ErasePool(int64_t nPool)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("pool"), nPool));
 }
 
@@ -325,7 +328,7 @@ bool CWalletDB::WriteMinVersion(int nVersion)
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteHDChain(const CHDChain& chain)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     std::string key = std::string("hdchain");
     if (chain.chainType == HDChain::ChainCounterType::Sapling)
         key += std::string("_sap");
@@ -989,18 +992,18 @@ void ThreadFlushWalletDB(const std::string& strFile)
     if (!GetBoolArg("-flushwallet", true))
         return;
 
-    unsigned int nLastSeen = nWalletDBUpdated;
-    unsigned int nLastFlushed = nWalletDBUpdated;
+    unsigned int nLastSeen = CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter();
+    unsigned int nLastFlushed = CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter();
     int64_t nLastWalletUpdate = GetTime();
     while (true) {
         MilliSleep(500);
 
-        if (nLastSeen != nWalletDBUpdated) {
-            nLastSeen = nWalletDBUpdated;
+        if (nLastSeen != CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter()) {
+            nLastSeen = CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter();
             nLastWalletUpdate = GetTime();
         }
 
-        if (nLastFlushed != nWalletDBUpdated && GetTime() - nLastWalletUpdate >= 2) {
+        if (nLastFlushed != CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter() && GetTime() - nLastWalletUpdate >= 2) {
             TRY_LOCK(bitdb.cs_db, lockDb);
             if (lockDb) {
                 // Don't do this if any databases are in use
@@ -1016,7 +1019,7 @@ void ThreadFlushWalletDB(const std::string& strFile)
                     std::map<std::string, int>::iterator mi = bitdb.mapFileUseCount.find(strFile);
                     if (mi != bitdb.mapFileUseCount.end()) {
                         LogPrint(BCLog::DB, "Flushing wallet.dat\n");
-                        nLastFlushed = nWalletDBUpdated;
+                        nLastFlushed = CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter();
                         int64_t nStart = GetTimeMillis();
 
                         // Flush wallet.dat so it's self contained
@@ -1254,13 +1257,13 @@ bool CWalletDB::Recover(CDBEnv& dbenv, std::string filename)
 
 bool CWalletDB::WriteDestData(const std::string& address, const std::string& key, const std::string& value)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Write(std::make_pair(std::string("destdata"), std::make_pair(address, key)), value);
 }
 
 bool CWalletDB::EraseDestData(const std::string& address, const std::string& key)
 {
-    nWalletDBUpdated++;
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
     return Erase(std::make_pair(std::string("destdata"), std::make_pair(address, key)));
 }
 
@@ -1737,3 +1740,13 @@ std::list<CDeterministicMint> CWalletDB::ListArchivedDeterministicMints()
     pcursor->close();
     return listMints;
 }
+
+void CWalletDB::IncrementUpdateCounter()
+{
+    nWalletDBUpdateCounter++;
+}
+
+unsigned int CWalletDB::GetUpdateCounter()
+{
+    return nWalletDBUpdateCounter;
+}
diff --git a/src/wallet/walletdb.h b/src/wallet/walletdb.h
index b79147f5f77f..ef5da229ead6 100644
--- a/src/wallet/walletdb.h
+++ b/src/wallet/walletdb.h
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ class CWalletDB : public CDB
     std::map<uint256, std::vector<std::pair<uint256, uint32_t> > > MapMintPool();
     bool WriteMintPoolPair(const uint256& hashMasterSeed, const uint256& hashPubcoin, const uint32_t& nCount);
 
+    static void IncrementUpdateCounter();
+    static unsigned int GetUpdateCounter();
 private:
     CWalletDB(const CWalletDB&);
     void operator=(const CWalletDB&);
@@ -230,6 +232,6 @@ class CWalletDB : public CDB
 void NotifyBacked(const CWallet& wallet, bool fSuccess, std::string strMessage);
 bool BackupWallet(const CWallet& wallet, const fs::path& strDest, bool fEnableCustom = true);
 bool AttemptBackupWallet(const CWallet& wallet, const fs::path& pathSrc, const fs::path& pathDest);
-
+void ThreadFlushWalletDB(const std::string& strFile);
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_WALLETDB_H