diff --git a/agb/src/interrupt.rs b/agb/src/interrupt.rs
index c88fb9fd..6aba025c 100644
--- a/agb/src/interrupt.rs
+++ b/agb/src/interrupt.rs
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ pub fn add_interrupt_handler<'a>(
 /// [`CriticalSection`]
 ///
 /// [`CriticalSection`]: bare_metal::CriticalSection
-pub fn free<F, R>(f: F) -> R
+pub fn free<F, R>(mut f: F) -> R
 where
     F: FnOnce(CriticalSection) -> R,
 {
@@ -296,7 +296,13 @@ where
 
     disable_interrupts();
 
-    let r = f(unsafe { CriticalSection::new() });
+    // prevents the contents of the function from being reordered before IME is disabled.
+    crate::sync::memory_write_hint(&mut f);
+
+    let mut r = f(unsafe { CriticalSection::new() });
+
+    // prevents the contents of the function from being reordered after IME is re-enabled.
+    crate::sync::memory_write_hint(&mut r);
 
     INTERRUPTS_ENABLED.set(enabled);
     r
diff --git a/agb/src/lib.rs b/agb/src/lib.rs
index 957e5950..fa3dd6f9 100644
--- a/agb/src/lib.rs
+++ b/agb/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #![feature(alloc_error_handler)]
 #![feature(allocator_api)]
 #![feature(asm_const)]
+#![feature(isa_attribute)]
 #![warn(clippy::all)]
 #![deny(clippy::must_use_candidate)]
 #![deny(clippy::trivially_copy_pass_by_ref)]
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ pub mod rng;
 mod single;
 /// Implements sound output.
 pub mod sound;
+/// A module containing functions and utilities useful for synchronizing state.
+pub mod sync;
 /// System BIOS calls / syscalls.
 pub mod syscall;
 /// Interactions with the internal timers
diff --git a/agb/src/sync/locks.rs b/agb/src/sync/locks.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ce93465d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agb/src/sync/locks.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+use crate::sync::Static;
+use core::cell::UnsafeCell;
+use core::mem::MaybeUninit;
+use core::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+use core::ptr;
+use core::sync::atomic::{compiler_fence, Ordering};
+
+#[inline(never)]
+fn already_locked() -> ! {
+    panic!("IRQ and main thread are attempting to access the same Mutex!")
+}
+
+/// A mutex that prevents code from running in both an IRQ and normal code at
+/// the same time.
+///
+/// Note that this does not support blocking like a typical mutex, and instead
+/// mainly exists for memory safety reasons.
+pub struct RawMutex(Static<bool>);
+impl RawMutex {
+    /// Creates a new lock.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        RawMutex(Static::new(false))
+    }
+
+    /// Locks the mutex and returns whether a lock was successfully acquired.
+    fn raw_lock(&self) -> bool {
+        if self.0.replace(true) {
+            // value was already true, opps.
+            false
+        } else {
+            // prevent any weird reordering, and continue
+            compiler_fence(Ordering::Acquire);
+            true
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Unlocks the mutex.
+    fn raw_unlock(&self) {
+        compiler_fence(Ordering::Release);
+        if !self.0.replace(false) {
+            panic!("Internal error: Attempt to unlock a `RawMutex` which is not locked.")
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a guard for this lock, or panics if there is another lock active.
+    pub fn lock(&self) -> RawMutexGuard<'_> {
+        self.try_lock().unwrap_or_else(|| already_locked())
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a guard for this lock, or `None` if there is another lock active.
+    pub fn try_lock(&self) -> Option<RawMutexGuard<'_>> {
+        if self.raw_lock() {
+            Some(RawMutexGuard(self))
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+unsafe impl Send for RawMutex {}
+unsafe impl Sync for RawMutex {}
+
+/// A guard representing an active lock on an [`RawMutex`].
+pub struct RawMutexGuard<'a>(&'a RawMutex);
+impl<'a> Drop for RawMutexGuard<'a> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.0.raw_unlock();
+    }
+}
+
+/// A mutex that protects an object from being accessed in both an IRQ and
+/// normal code at once.
+///
+/// Note that this does not support blocking like a typical mutex, and instead
+/// mainly exists for memory safety reasons.
+pub struct Mutex<T> {
+    raw: RawMutex,
+    data: UnsafeCell<T>,
+}
+impl<T> Mutex<T> {
+    /// Creates a new lock containing a given value.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn new(t: T) -> Self {
+        Mutex { raw: RawMutex::new(), data: UnsafeCell::new(t) }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a guard for this lock, or panics if there is another lock active.
+    pub fn lock(&self) -> MutexGuard<'_, T> {
+        self.try_lock().unwrap_or_else(|| already_locked())
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a guard for this lock or `None` if there is another lock active.
+    pub fn try_lock(&self) -> Option<MutexGuard<'_, T>> {
+        if self.raw.raw_lock() {
+            Some(MutexGuard { underlying: self, ptr: self.data.get() })
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+unsafe impl<T> Send for Mutex<T> {}
+unsafe impl<T> Sync for Mutex<T> {}
+
+/// A guard representing an active lock on an [`Mutex`].
+pub struct MutexGuard<'a, T> {
+    underlying: &'a Mutex<T>,
+    ptr: *mut T,
+}
+impl<'a, T> Drop for MutexGuard<'a, T> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.underlying.raw.raw_unlock();
+    }
+}
+impl<'a, T> Deref for MutexGuard<'a, T> {
+    type Target = T;
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        unsafe { &*self.ptr }
+    }
+}
+impl<'a, T> DerefMut for MutexGuard<'a, T> {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
+        unsafe { &mut *self.ptr }
+    }
+}
+
+enum Void {}
+
+/// A helper type that ensures a particular value is only initialized once.
+pub struct InitOnce<T> {
+    is_initialized: Static<bool>,
+    value: UnsafeCell<MaybeUninit<T>>,
+}
+impl<T> InitOnce<T> {
+    /// Creates a new uninitialized object.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        InitOnce {
+            is_initialized: Static::new(false),
+            value: UnsafeCell::new(MaybeUninit::uninit()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Gets the contents of this state, or initializes it if it has not already
+    /// been initialized.
+    ///
+    /// The initializer function is guaranteed to only be called once.
+    ///
+    /// This function disables IRQs while it is initializing the inner value.
+    /// While this can cause audio skipping and other similar issues, it is
+    /// not normally a problem as interrupts will only be disabled once per
+    /// `InitOnce` during the life cycle of the program.
+    pub fn get(&self, initializer: impl FnOnce() -> T) -> &T {
+        match self.try_get(|| -> Result<T, Void> { Ok(initializer()) }) {
+            Ok(v) => v,
+            _ => unimplemented!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Gets the contents of this state, or initializes it if it has not already
+    /// been initialized.
+    ///
+    /// The initializer function is guaranteed to only be called once if it
+    /// returns `Ok`. If it returns `Err`, it will be called again in the
+    /// future until an attempt at initialization succeeds.
+    ///
+    /// This function disables IRQs while it is initializing the inner value.
+    /// While this can cause audio skipping and other similar issues, it is
+    /// not normally a problem as interrupts will only be disabled once per
+    /// `InitOnce` during the life cycle of the program.
+    pub fn try_get<E>(&self, initializer: impl FnOnce() -> Result<T, E>) -> Result<&T, E> {
+        unsafe {
+            if !self.is_initialized.read() {
+                // We disable interrupts to make this simpler, since this is likely to
+                // only occur once in a program anyway.
+                crate::interrupt::free(|_| -> Result<(), E> {
+                    // We check again to make sure this function wasn't called in an
+                    // interrupt between the first check and when interrupts were
+                    // actually disabled.
+                    if !self.is_initialized.read() {
+                        // Do the actual initialization.
+                        ptr::write_volatile((*self.value.get()).as_mut_ptr(), initializer()?);
+                        self.is_initialized.write(true);
+                    }
+                    Ok(())
+                })?;
+            }
+            compiler_fence(Ordering::Acquire);
+            Ok(&*(*self.value.get()).as_mut_ptr())
+        }
+    }
+}
+impl<T> Drop for InitOnce<T> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if self.is_initialized.read() {
+            // drop the value inside the `MaybeUninit`
+            unsafe {
+                ptr::read((*self.value.get()).as_ptr());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+unsafe impl<T: Send> Send for InitOnce<T> {}
+unsafe impl<T: Sync> Sync for InitOnce<T> {}
diff --git a/agb/src/sync/mod.rs b/agb/src/sync/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17dad495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agb/src/sync/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+mod locks;
+mod statics;
+
+pub use locks::*;
+pub use statics::*;
+
+use core::arch::asm;
+
+/// Marks that a pointer is read without actually reading from this.
+///
+/// This uses an [`asm!`] instruction that marks the parameter as being read,
+/// requiring the compiler to treat this function as if anything could be
+/// done to it.
+#[inline(always)]
+pub fn memory_read_hint<T>(val: *const T) {
+    unsafe { asm!("/* {0} */", in(reg) val, options(readonly, nostack)) }
+}
+
+/// Marks that a pointer is read or written to without actually writing to it.
+///
+/// This uses an [`asm!`] instruction that marks the parameter as being read
+/// and written, requiring the compiler to treat this function as if anything
+/// could be done to it.
+#[inline(always)]
+pub fn memory_write_hint<T>(val: *mut T) {
+    unsafe { asm!("/* {0} */", in(reg) val, options(nostack)) }
+}
+
+/// An internal function used as a temporary hack to get `compiler_fence`
+/// working. While this call is not properly inlined, working is better than not
+/// working at all.
+///
+/// This seems to be a problem caused by Rust issue #62256:
+/// <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/62256>
+///
+/// **WARNING FOR ANYONE WHO FINDS THIS**: This implementation will *only* be
+/// correct on the GBA, and should not be used on any other platform. The GBA
+/// is very old, and has no atomics to begin with - only a main thread and
+/// interrupts. On any more recent CPU, this implementation is extremely
+/// unlikely to be sound.
+///
+/// Not public API, obviously.
+#[doc(hidden)]
+#[deprecated]
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+#[no_mangle]
+#[inline(always)]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn __sync_synchronize() {}
diff --git a/agb/src/sync/statics.rs b/agb/src/sync/statics.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3970589f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agb/src/sync/statics.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,329 @@
+use core::arch::asm;
+use core::cell::UnsafeCell;
+use core::mem;
+use core::ptr;
+
+/// The internal function for replacing a `Copy` (really `!Drop`) value in a
+/// [`Static`]. This uses assembly to use an `stmia` instruction to ensure
+/// an IRQ cannot occur during the write operation.
+unsafe fn transfer<T: Copy>(dst: *mut T, src: *const T) {
+    let align = mem::align_of::<T>();
+    let size = mem::size_of::<T>();
+
+    if size == 0 {
+        // Do nothing with ZSTs.
+    } else if size <= 16 && align % 4 == 0 {
+        // We can do an 4-byte aligned transfer up to 16 bytes.
+        transfer_align4_thumb(dst, src);
+    } else if size <= 40 && align % 4 == 0 {
+        // We can do the same up to 40 bytes, but we need to switch to ARM.
+        transfer_align4_arm(dst, src);
+    } else if size <= 2 && align % 2 == 0 {
+        // We can do a 2-byte aligned transfer up to 2 bytes.
+        asm!(
+            "ldrh {2},[{0}]",
+            "strh {2},[{1}]",
+            in(reg) src, in(reg) dst, out(reg) _,
+        );
+    } else if size == 1 {
+        // We can do a simple byte copy.
+        asm!(
+            "ldrb {2},[{0}]",
+            "strb {2},[{1}]",
+            in(reg) src, in(reg) dst, out(reg) _,
+        );
+    } else {
+        // When we don't have an optimized path, we just disable IRQs.
+        crate::interrupt::free(|_| ptr::write_volatile(dst, ptr::read_volatile(src)));
+    }
+}
+
+#[allow(unused_assignments)]
+unsafe fn transfer_align4_thumb<T: Copy>(mut dst: *mut T, mut src: *const T) {
+    let size = mem::size_of::<T>();
+
+    if size <= 4 {
+        // We use assembly here regardless to just do the word aligned copy. This
+        // ensures it's done with a single ldr/str instruction.
+        asm!(
+            "ldr {2},[{0}]",
+            "str {2},[{1}]",
+            inout(reg) src, in(reg) dst, out(reg) _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 8 {
+        // Starting at size == 8, we begin using ldmia/stmia to load/save multiple
+        // words in one instruction, avoiding IRQs from interrupting our operation.
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r3}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r3}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 12 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r4}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r4}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 16 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _,
+        );
+    } else {
+        unimplemented!("This should be done via transfer_arm.");
+    }
+}
+
+#[instruction_set(arm::a32)]
+#[allow(unused_assignments)]
+unsafe fn transfer_align4_arm<T: Copy>(mut dst: *mut T, mut src: *const T) {
+    let size = mem::size_of::<T>();
+
+    if size <= 16 {
+        unimplemented!("This should be done via transfer_thumb.");
+    } else if size <= 20 {
+        // Starting at size == 16, we have to switch to ARM due to lack of
+        // accessible registers in THUMB mode.
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 24 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r8}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r8}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+            out("r8") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 28 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r9}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r9}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+            out("r8") _, out("r9") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 32 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+            out("r8") _, out("r9") _, out("r10") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 36 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10,r12}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10,r12}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+            out("r8") _, out("r9") _, out("r10") _, out("r12") _,
+        );
+    } else if size <= 40 {
+        asm!(
+            "ldmia {0}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10,r12,r14}}",
+            "stmia {1}!, {{r2-r5,r7-r10,r12,r14}}",
+            inout(reg) src, inout(reg) dst,
+            out("r2") _, out("r3") _, out("r4") _, out("r5") _, out("r7") _,
+            out("r8") _, out("r9") _, out("r10") _, out("r12") _, out("r14") _,
+        );
+    } else {
+        // r13 is sp, and r15 is pc. Neither are usable
+        unimplemented!("Copy too large for use of ldmia/stmia.");
+    }
+}
+
+/// The internal function for swapping the current value of a [`Static`] with
+/// another value.
+unsafe fn exchange<T>(dst: *mut T, src: *const T) -> T {
+    let align = mem::align_of::<T>();
+    let size = mem::size_of::<T>();
+    if size == 0 {
+        // Do nothing with ZSTs.
+        ptr::read(dst)
+    } else if size <= 4 && align % 4 == 0 {
+        // Swap a single word with the SWP instruction.
+        let val = ptr::read(src as *const u32);
+        let new_val = exchange_align4_arm(dst, val);
+        ptr::read(&new_val as *const _ as *const T)
+    } else if size == 1 {
+        // Swap a byte with the SWPB instruction.
+        let val = ptr::read(src as *const u8);
+        let new_val = exchange_align1_arm(dst, val);
+        ptr::read(&new_val as *const _ as *const T)
+    } else {
+        // fallback
+        crate::interrupt::free(|_| {
+            let cur = ptr::read_volatile(dst);
+            ptr::write_volatile(dst, ptr::read_volatile(src));
+            cur
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+#[instruction_set(arm::a32)]
+unsafe fn exchange_align4_arm<T>(dst: *mut T, i: u32) -> u32 {
+    let out;
+    asm!("swp {2}, {1}, [{0}]", in(reg) dst, in(reg) i, lateout(reg) out);
+    out
+}
+
+#[instruction_set(arm::a32)]
+unsafe fn exchange_align1_arm<T>(dst: *mut T, i: u8) -> u8 {
+    let out;
+    asm!("swpb {2}, {1}, [{0}]", in(reg) dst, in(reg) i, lateout(reg) out);
+    out
+}
+
+/// A helper that implements static variables.
+///
+/// It ensures that even if you use the same static variable in both an IRQ
+/// and normal code, the IRQ will never observe an invalid value of the
+/// variable.
+///
+/// This type only works with owned values. If you need to work with borrows,
+/// consider using [`sync::Mutex`](`crate::sync::Mutex`) instead.
+///
+/// ## Performance
+///
+/// Writing or reading from a static variable is efficient under the following
+/// conditions:
+///
+/// * The type is aligned to 4 bytes and can be stored in 40 bytes or less.
+/// * The type is aligned to 2 bytes and can be stored in 2 bytes.
+/// * The type is can be stored in a single byte.
+///
+/// Replacing the current value of the static variable is efficient under the
+/// following conditions:
+///
+/// * The type is aligned to 4 bytes and can be stored in 4 bytes or less.
+/// * The type is can be stored in a single byte.
+///
+/// When these conditions are not met, static variables are handled using a
+/// fallback routine that disables IRQs and does a normal copy. This can be
+/// dangerous as disabling IRQs can cause your program to miss out on important
+/// interrupts such as V-Blank.
+///
+/// Consider using [`sync::Mutex`](`crate::sync::Mutex`) instead if you need to
+/// use a large amount of operations that would cause IRQs to be disabled. Also
+/// consider using `#[repr(align(4))]` to force proper alignment for your type.
+pub struct Static<T> {
+    data: UnsafeCell<T>,
+}
+impl<T> Static<T> {
+    /// Creates a new static variable.
+    pub const fn new(val: T) -> Self {
+        Static { data: UnsafeCell::new(val) }
+    }
+
+    /// Replaces the current value of the static variable with another, and
+    /// returns the old value.
+    #[allow(clippy::needless_pass_by_value)] // critical for safety
+    pub fn replace(&self, val: T) -> T {
+        unsafe { exchange(self.data.get(), &val) }
+    }
+
+    /// Extracts the interior value of the static variable.
+    pub fn into_inner(self) -> T {
+        self.data.into_inner()
+    }
+}
+impl<T: Copy> Static<T> {
+    /// Writes a new value into this static variable.
+    pub fn write(&self, val: T) {
+        unsafe { transfer(self.data.get(), &val) }
+    }
+
+    /// Reads a value from this static variable.
+    pub fn read(&self) -> T {
+        unsafe {
+            let mut out: mem::MaybeUninit<T> = mem::MaybeUninit::uninit();
+            transfer(out.as_mut_ptr(), self.data.get());
+            out.assume_init()
+        }
+    }
+}
+impl<T: Default> Default for Static<T> {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Static::new(T::default())
+    }
+}
+unsafe impl<T> Send for Static<T> {}
+unsafe impl<T> Sync for Static<T> {}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use crate::Gba;
+    use crate::interrupt::Interrupt;
+    use crate::sync::Static;
+    use crate::timer::Divider;
+
+    fn write_read_concurrency_test_impl<const COUNT: usize>(gba: &mut Gba) {
+        let sentinel = [0x12345678; COUNT];
+        let value: Static<[u32; COUNT]> = Static::new(sentinel);
+
+        // set up a timer and an interrupt that uses the timer
+        let mut timer = gba.timers.timers().timer2;
+        timer.set_cascade(false);
+        timer.set_divider(Divider::Divider1);
+        timer.set_overflow_amount(1049);
+        timer.set_interrupt(true);
+        timer.set_enabled(true);
+
+        let _int = crate::interrupt::add_interrupt_handler(Interrupt::Timer2, |_| {
+            value.write(sentinel);
+        });
+
+        // the actual main test loop
+        let mut interrupt_seen = false;
+        let mut no_interrupt_seen = false;
+        for i in 0..100000 {
+            // write to the static
+            let new_value = [i; COUNT];
+            value.write(new_value);
+
+            // check the current value
+            let current = value.read();
+            if current == new_value {
+                no_interrupt_seen = true;
+            } else if current == sentinel {
+                interrupt_seen = true;
+            } else {
+                panic!("Unexpected value found in `Static`.");
+            }
+
+            // we return as soon as we've seen both the value written by the main thread
+            // and interrupt
+            if interrupt_seen && no_interrupt_seen {
+                timer.set_enabled(false);
+                return
+            }
+
+            if i % 8192 == 0 && i != 0 {
+                timer.set_overflow_amount(1049 + (i / 64) as u16);
+            }
+        }
+        panic!("Concurrency test timed out: {}", COUNT)
+    }
+
+    #[test_case]
+    fn write_read_concurrency_test(gba: &mut Gba) {
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<1>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<2>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<3>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<4>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<5>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<6>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<7>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<8>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<9>(gba);
+        write_read_concurrency_test_impl::<10>(gba);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file