diff --git a/layers/core_checks/cc_synchronization.cpp b/layers/core_checks/cc_synchronization.cpp
index b7ed9af65ca..f414037c301 100644
--- a/layers/core_checks/cc_synchronization.cpp
+++ b/layers/core_checks/cc_synchronization.cpp
@@ -916,8 +916,21 @@ bool CoreChecks::ValidateRenderPassPipelineBarriers(const Location &outer_loc, c
     return skip;
 }
 
+class DummyObject {
+    public:
+    DummyObject() {};
+    ~DummyObject() {
+        auto it = layer_data_map.begin(); // gets instance object
+        ++it; // gets device object
+        it->second->ReleaseDeviceDispatchObject(LayerObjectTypeCoreValidation);
+        printf("Program called exit() and need to cleanup the layers prior to any atexit() calls trying to use cleared out std::map\n");
+        fflush(stdout);
+    }
+};
+
 bool CoreChecks::ValidateStageMasksAgainstQueueCapabilities(const LogObjectList &objlist, const Location &stage_mask_loc,
                                                             VkQueueFlags queue_flags, VkPipelineStageFlags2KHR stage_mask) const {
+    static const DummyObject dumm_object;
     bool skip = false;
     // these are always allowed by queues, calls that restrict them have dedicated VUs.
     stage_mask &= ~(VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_2_ALL_COMMANDS_BIT_KHR | VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_2_TOP_OF_PIPE_BIT_KHR |