diff --git a/.changelog/11085.txt b/.changelog/11085.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e437265e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/11085.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+xds: ensure the active streams counters are 64 bit aligned on 32 bit systems
+```
diff --git a/agent/xds/server.go b/agent/xds/server.go
index a9b4c220b..1763448cd 100644
--- a/agent/xds/server.go
+++ b/agent/xds/server.go
@@ -152,11 +152,12 @@ type Server struct {
 
 	DisableV2Protocol bool
 
-	activeStreams activeStreamCounters
+	activeStreams *activeStreamCounters
 }
 
 // activeStreamCounters simply encapsulates two counters accessed atomically to
-// ensure alignment is correct.
+// ensure alignment is correct. This further requires that activeStreamCounters
+// be a pointer field.
 type activeStreamCounters struct {
 	xDSv3 uint64
 	xDSv2 uint64
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ func NewServer(
 		CheckFetcher:       checkFetcher,
 		CfgFetcher:         cfgFetcher,
 		AuthCheckFrequency: DefaultAuthCheckFrequency,
+		activeStreams:      &activeStreamCounters{},
 	}
 }