diff --git a/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker.go b/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker.go
index 26a2c0101..e75160553 100644
--- a/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker.go
+++ b/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker.go
@@ -28,18 +28,27 @@ func (a *AppRefTracker) AppsForRef(refKey RefKey) (map[RefKey]struct{}, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not find ref %s", refKey.Description())
 	}
 
-	return apps, nil
+	return copyRefKeySet(apps), nil
 }
 
 func (a *AppRefTracker) RefsForApp(appKey RefKey) (map[RefKey]struct{}, error) {
 	a.lock.Lock()
 	defer a.lock.Unlock()
 
-	if a.appsToRefs[appKey] == nil {
+	refs := a.appsToRefs[appKey]
+	if refs == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not find refs for App %s", appKey.RefName())
 	}
 
-	return a.appsToRefs[appKey], nil
+	return copyRefKeySet(refs), nil
+}
+
+func copyRefKeySet(in map[RefKey]struct{}) map[RefKey]struct{} {
+	out := make(map[RefKey]struct{}, len(in))
+	for k := range in {
+		out[k] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 func (a *AppRefTracker) RemoveRef(refKey RefKey) {
diff --git a/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker_test.go b/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker_test.go
index 9ff9c9b6b..72bf8ec9f 100644
--- a/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker_test.go
+++ b/pkg/reftracker/ref_tracker_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package reftracker_test
 
 import (
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"carvel.dev/kapp-controller/pkg/reftracker"
@@ -59,3 +60,54 @@ func Test_RemoveAppFromAllRefs_RemovesApp(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected app to be removed from appRefTracker after deletion")
 	}
 }
+
+func Test_AppsForRef_SafeForConcurrentIteration(t *testing.T) {
+	appRefTracker := reftracker.NewAppRefTracker()
+
+	refKey := reftracker.NewSecretKey("secretName", "default")
+	refKeyMap := map[reftracker.RefKey]struct{}{refKey: {}}
+
+	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
+		appKey := reftracker.NewAppKey("seed-app", "default")
+		appKey = reftracker.NewAppKey(appKey.RefName()+string(rune('a'+i)), "default")
+		appRefTracker.ReconcileRefs(refKeyMap, appKey)
+	}
+
+	stop := make(chan struct{})
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		i := 0
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-stop:
+				return
+			default:
+				appKey := reftracker.NewAppKey("mutator-app", "default")
+				appKey = reftracker.NewAppKey(appKey.RefName()+string(rune('a'+(i%26))), "default")
+				appRefTracker.ReconcileRefs(refKeyMap, appKey)
+				appRefTracker.RemoveAppFromAllRefs(appKey)
+				i++
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	iterDone := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		defer close(iterDone)
+		for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
+			apps, err := appRefTracker.AppsForRef(refKey)
+			if err != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+			for range apps {
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	<-iterDone
+	close(stop)
+	wg.Wait()
+}