diff --git a/ratemon/runtime/libratemon_interp.cpp b/ratemon/runtime/libratemon_interp.cpp
index a13efec..ae4d2d4 100644
--- a/ratemon/runtime/libratemon_interp.cpp
+++ b/ratemon/runtime/libratemon_interp.cpp
@@ -24,21 +24,21 @@
 
 #include "ratemon.h"
 
-volatile unsigned int max_active_flows = 0;
-volatile unsigned int epoch_us = 0;
-volatile bool setup = false;
-volatile bool skipped_first = false;
+std::mutex lock_control;
+unsigned int max_active_flows = 0;
+unsigned int epoch_us = 0;
+bool setup = false;
+bool skipped_first = false;
+// FD for the flow_to_rwnd map.
+int flow_to_rwnd_fd = 0;
 
 // Protects active_fds_queue and paused_fds_queue.
-std::mutex lock;
+std::mutex lock_scheduler;
 std::queue<int> active_fds_queue;
 std::queue<int> paused_fds_queue;
 // Maps file descriptor to rm_flow struct.
 std::unordered_map<int, struct rm_flow> fd_to_flow;
 
-// FD for the flow_to_rwnd map.
-int flow_to_rwnd_fd = 0;
-
 // Used to set entries in flow_to_rwnd.
 int zero = 0;
 
@@ -54,21 +54,28 @@ inline void trigger_ack(int fd) {
 }
 
 void thread_func() {
+  RM_PRINTF("INFO: libratemon_interp scheduling thread started\n");
+  // If setup has not been performed yet, then we cannot perform scheduling.
+  while (!setup) {
+    // RM_PRINTF("WARNING setup not completed, skipping scheduling\n");
+    usleep(10000);
+  }
+  // At this point, max_active_flows, epoch_us, and flow_to_rwnd_fd should be.
+  if (max_active_flows == 0 || epoch_us == 0 || flow_to_rwnd_fd == 0) {
+    lock_control.unlock();
+    RM_PRINTF(
+        "ERROR: cannot continue, invalid max_active_flows=%u, epoch_us=%u, or "
+        "flow_to_rwnd_fd=%d\n",
+        max_active_flows, epoch_us, flow_to_rwnd_fd);
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Previously paused flows that will be activated.
   std::vector<int> new_active_fds;
   // Preallocate suffient space.
   new_active_fds.reserve(max_active_flows);
 
-  RM_PRINTF("INFO: libratemon_interp scheduling thread started\n");
-
   while (true) {
-    // If setup has not been performed yet, then we cannot perform scheduling.
-    if (!setup) {
-      // RM_PRINTF("WARNING setup not completed, skipping scheduling\n");
-      usleep(10000);
-      continue;
-    }
-
     usleep(epoch_us);
 
     // If fewer than the max number of flows exist and they are all active, then
@@ -81,7 +88,7 @@ void thread_func() {
 
     RM_PRINTF("Performing scheduling\n");
     new_active_fds.clear();
-    lock.lock();
+    lock_scheduler.lock();
 
     // Try to find max_active_flows FDs to unpause.
     while (!paused_fds_queue.empty() and
@@ -122,10 +129,8 @@ void thread_func() {
     }
     RM_PRINTF("\n");
 
-    lock.unlock();
+    lock_scheduler.unlock();
     new_active_fds.clear();
-
-    fflush(stdout);
   }
 }
 
@@ -170,6 +175,7 @@ int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen) {
   }
 
   // Perform BPF setup (only once for all flows in this process).
+  lock_control.lock();
   if (!setup) {
     if (!read_env_uint(RM_MAX_ACTIVE_FLOWS_KEY, &max_active_flows)) {
       return new_fd;
@@ -190,15 +196,19 @@ int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen) {
     RM_PRINTF("INFO: max_active_flows=%u epoch_us=%u\n", max_active_flows,
               epoch_us);
   }
+  lock_control.unlock();
 
   // Hack for iperf3. The first flow is a control flow that should not be
   // scheduled. Note that for this hack to work, libratemon_interp must be
   // restarted between tests.
+  lock_control.lock();
   if (fd_to_flow.size() == 0 && !skipped_first) {
     RM_PRINTF("WARNING: skipping first flow\n");
     skipped_first = true;
+    lock_control.unlock();
     return new_fd;
   }
+  lock_control.unlock();
 
   // Set the CCA and make sure it was set correctly.
   if (setsockopt(new_fd, SOL_TCP, TCP_CONGESTION, RM_BPF_CUBIC,
@@ -244,10 +254,9 @@ int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen) {
                          .remote_port = ntohs(remote_addr.sin_port)};
   // RM_PRINTF("flow: %u:%u->%u:%u\n", flow.remote_addr, flow.remote_port,
   //           flow.local_addr, flow.local_port);
-  fd_to_flow[new_fd] = flow;
-
-  lock.lock();
 
+  lock_scheduler.lock();
+  fd_to_flow[new_fd] = flow;
   // Should this flow be active or paused?
   if (active_fds_queue.size() < max_active_flows) {
     // Less than the max number of flows are active, so make this one active.
@@ -259,7 +268,7 @@ int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen) {
     bpf_map_update_elem(flow_to_rwnd_fd, &flow, &zero, BPF_ANY);
   }
 
-  lock.unlock();
+  lock_scheduler.unlock();
 
   RM_PRINTF("INFO: successful 'accept' for FD=%d, got FD=%d\n", sockfd, new_fd);
   return new_fd;