I realize you weren&#x27;t using the word in this way, but you want to be careful with that word &quot;atomic.&quot;  See <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;stackoverflow.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;1790204&#x2F;in-c-is-i-1-atomic" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;stackoverflow.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;1790204&#x2F;in-c-is-i-1-atomi...</a> , particularly the third answer.