diff --git a/util/perf_context.cc b/util/perf_context.cc
index 650abebca0..fc8efba645 100644
--- a/util/perf_context.cc
+++ b/util/perf_context.cc
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 namespace rocksdb {
 
 // by default, enable counts only
-PerfLevel perf_level = kEnableCount;
+__thread PerfLevel perf_level = kEnableCount;
 
 void SetPerfLevel(PerfLevel level) { perf_level = level; }
 
diff --git a/util/perf_context_imp.h b/util/perf_context_imp.h
index f7818e69c5..7b06e4c1dc 100644
--- a/util/perf_context_imp.h
+++ b/util/perf_context_imp.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 namespace rocksdb {
 
-extern enum PerfLevel perf_level;
+extern __thread PerfLevel perf_level;
 
 inline void StartPerfTimer(StopWatchNano* timer) {
   if (perf_level >= PerfLevel::kEnableTime) {