diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc
index 05a228fb8fe6a..c055640d56214 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc
@@ -69,25 +69,16 @@ PROTOBUF_ATTRIBUTE_NO_DESTROY PROTOBUF_CONSTINIT
         fixed_address_empty_string{};  // NOLINT
 
 
-PROTOBUF_CONSTINIT std::atomic<bool> init_protobuf_defaults_state{false};
-static bool InitProtobufDefaultsImpl() {
-  fixed_address_empty_string.DefaultConstruct();
-  OnShutdownDestroyString(fixed_address_empty_string.get_mutable());
-
-
-  init_protobuf_defaults_state.store(true, std::memory_order_release);
-  return true;
-}
-
+PROTOBUF_CONSTINIT bool init_protobuf_defaults_state{false};
 void InitProtobufDefaultsSlow() {
-  static bool is_inited = InitProtobufDefaultsImpl();
-  (void)is_inited;
+  fixed_address_empty_string.DefaultConstruct();
+  init_protobuf_defaults_state = true;
 }
 // Force the initialization of the empty string.
 // Normally, registration would do it, but we don't have any guarantee that
 // there is any object with reflection.
 PROTOBUF_ATTRIBUTE_INIT_PRIORITY1 static std::true_type init_empty_string =
-    (InitProtobufDefaultsSlow(), std::true_type{});
+    (InitProtobufDefaults(), std::true_type{});
 
 const std::string& GetEmptyString() {
   InitProtobufDefaults();
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h
index 0aee548ed2796..a722c9126026d 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h
@@ -89,11 +89,14 @@ inline To DownCast(From& f) {
 // This fastpath inlines a single branch instead of having to make the
 // InitProtobufDefaults function call.
 // It also generates less inlined code than a function-scope static initializer.
-PROTOBUF_EXPORT extern std::atomic<bool> init_protobuf_defaults_state;
+PROTOBUF_EXPORT extern bool init_protobuf_defaults_state;
 PROTOBUF_EXPORT void InitProtobufDefaultsSlow();
 PROTOBUF_EXPORT inline void InitProtobufDefaults() {
-  if (PROTOBUF_PREDICT_FALSE(
-          !init_protobuf_defaults_state.load(std::memory_order_acquire))) {
+  // This is not thread-safe, but is called within a static initializer. As long
+  // as there are no calls to this function from off the main thread, before
+  // main() starts, this is safe. After main() starts,
+  // init_protobuf_defaults_state will always be true.
+  if (PROTOBUF_PREDICT_FALSE(!init_protobuf_defaults_state)) {
     InitProtobufDefaultsSlow();
   }
 }
-- 
2.37.0.rc0.104.g0611611a94-goog