diff --git a/nano/node/election.cpp b/nano/node/election.cpp
index ee64237059..e0fd27800d 100644
--- a/nano/node/election.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/election.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ bool nano::election::state_change (nano::election_state expected_a, nano::electi
 
 std::chrono::milliseconds nano::election::confirm_req_time () const
 {
-	switch (behavior ())
+	switch (behavior_m)
 	{
 		case election_behavior::manual:
 		case election_behavior::priority:
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ bool nano::election::transition_time (nano::confirmation_solicitor & solicitor_a
 
 std::chrono::milliseconds nano::election::time_to_live () const
 {
-	switch (behavior ())
+	switch (behavior_m)
 	{
 		case election_behavior::manual:
 		case election_behavior::priority:
@@ -771,6 +771,7 @@ std::vector<nano::vote_with_weight_info> nano::election::votes_with_weight () co
 
 nano::election_behavior nano::election::behavior () const
 {
+	nano::lock_guard<nano::mutex> guard{ mutex };
 	return behavior_m;
 }
 
diff --git a/nano/node/election.hpp b/nano/node/election.hpp
index 718cbf680c..9a6850a384 100644
--- a/nano/node/election.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/election.hpp
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class election final : public std::enable_shared_from_this<election>
 	mutable nano::uint128_t final_weight{ 0 };
 	mutable std::unordered_map<nano::block_hash, nano::uint128_t> last_tally;
 
-	nano::election_behavior const behavior_m;
+	nano::election_behavior behavior_m;
 	std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point const election_start{ std::chrono::steady_clock::now () };
 
 	mutable nano::mutex mutex;