diff --git a/Python/ceval.c b/Python/ceval.c
--- a/Python/ceval.c
+++ b/Python/ceval.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ PyEval_GetCallStats(PyObject *self)
 
 
 #ifdef WITH_THREAD
-#define GIL_REQUEST _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&gil_drop_request)
+#define GIL_REQUEST _Py_atomic_load_explicit(&gil_drop_request)
 #else
 #define GIL_REQUEST 0
 #endif
@@ -232,23 +232,23 @@ PyEval_GetCallStats(PyObject *self)
    1.  We believe this is all right because the eval loop will release
    the GIL eventually anyway. */
 #define COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER() \
-    _Py_atomic_store_relaxed( \
+    _Py_atomic_store_explicit( \
         &eval_breaker, \
         GIL_REQUEST | \
-        _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&pendingcalls_to_do) | \
+        _Py_atomic_load_explicit(&pendingcalls_to_do) | \
         pending_async_exc)
 
 #ifdef WITH_THREAD
 
 #define SET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&gil_drop_request, 1); \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&gil_drop_request, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&gil_drop_request, 0); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&gil_drop_request, 0); \
         COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
@@ -257,20 +257,20 @@ PyEval_GetCallStats(PyObject *self)
 /* Pending calls are only modified under pending_lock */
 #define SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&pendingcalls_to_do, 1); \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&pendingcalls_to_do, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define UNSIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&pendingcalls_to_do, 0); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&pendingcalls_to_do, 0); \
         COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define SIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC() \
     do { \
         pending_async_exc = 1; \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_explicit(&eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define UNSIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC() \
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ PyEval_ReleaseLock(void)
        We therefore avoid PyThreadState_GET() which dumps a fatal error
        in debug mode.
     */
-    drop_gil((PyThreadState*)_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(
+    drop_gil((PyThreadState*)_Py_atomic_load_explicit(
         &_PyThreadState_Current));
 }
 
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ PyEval_EvalFrameEx(PyFrameObject *f, int
 
 #define DISPATCH() \
     { \
-        if (!_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&eval_breaker)) {      \
+        if (!_Py_atomic_load_explicit(&eval_breaker)) {      \
                     FAST_DISPATCH(); \
         } \
         continue; \
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ PyEval_EvalFrameEx(PyFrameObject *f, int
            async I/O handler); see Py_AddPendingCall() and
            Py_MakePendingCalls() above. */
 
-        if (_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&eval_breaker)) {
+        if (_Py_atomic_load_explicit(&eval_breaker)) {
             if (*next_instr == SETUP_FINALLY) {
                 /* Make the last opcode before
                    a try: finally: block uninterruptible. */
@@ -1257,12 +1257,12 @@ PyEval_EvalFrameEx(PyFrameObject *f, int
 #ifdef WITH_TSC
             ticked = 1;
 #endif
-            if (_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&pendingcalls_to_do)) {
+            if (_Py_atomic_load_explicit(&pendingcalls_to_do)) {
                 if (Py_MakePendingCalls() < 0)
                     goto error;
             }
 #ifdef WITH_THREAD
-            if (_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&gil_drop_request)) {
+            if (_Py_atomic_load_explicit(&gil_drop_request)) {
                 /* Give another thread a chance */
                 if (PyThreadState_Swap(NULL) != tstate)
                     Py_FatalError("ceval: tstate mix-up");