diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/checkpointers/async_checkpointer.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/checkpointers/async_checkpointer.py
index 07d546d5d..d3b5364f3 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/checkpointers/async_checkpointer.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/checkpointers/async_checkpointer.py
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ def __init__(
       temporary_path_class: Optional[
           Type[atomicity_types.TemporaryPath]
       ] = None,
+      signals_prefix: Optional[str] = None,
   ):
     jax.monitoring.record_event('/jax/orbax/async_checkpointer/init')
     if not checkpoint_args.has_registered_args(handler):
@@ -360,6 +361,7 @@ def __init__(
     )
     self._barrier_sync_key_prefix = barrier_sync_key_prefix
     self._file_options = file_options
+    self._signals_prefix = signals_prefix
     self._metadata_store = (
         checkpoint_metadata_store
         or checkpoint.metadata_store(enable_write=True)
@@ -445,7 +447,7 @@ def _callback() -> None:
       # no longer needed.
       if self._create_directories_asynchronously:
         future.AwaitableSignalsContract.remove_all_awaitable_signals(
-            current_operation_id
+            current_operation_id, prefix=self._signals_prefix
         )
 
     return _callback
@@ -478,6 +480,7 @@ async def _save(
               [tmpdir],
               completion_signals=_DIRECTORY_CREATION_SIGNALS,
               multiprocessing_options=self._multiprocessing_options,
+              signals_prefix=self._signals_prefix,
           )
       )
     else:
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/future.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/future.py
index 341f1f1c3..eab274a8c 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/future.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/future.py
@@ -44,30 +44,35 @@ def get_unique_awaitable_singal_key(
       cls,
       signal: synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal,
       operation_id: str,
+      prefix: str | None = None,
   ) -> str:
     """Returns a unique barrier key for the signal.
 
     Args:
       signal: The signal to generate a barrier key for.
       operation_id: The operation id to use as a suffix for the barrier key.
+      prefix: The prefix to use for the barrier key. If None, the default is
+        used.
 
     Returns:
       A unique barrier key for the signal with operation id as key directory.
     """
-    return (
-        f'{cls.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix}_{operation_id}/{signal.value}'
-    )
+    prefix = prefix or cls.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix
+    return f'{prefix}_{operation_id}/{signal.value}'
 
   @classmethod
   def get_awaitable_signals_from_contract(
       cls,
       operation_id: str | None = None,
+      prefix: str | None = None,
   ) -> Sequence[synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal]:
     """Gets the awaitable signals that may be sent for the current operation id.
 
     Args:
       operation_id: The operation id to use for the barrier keys. If None, the
         current operation id is used.
+      prefix: The prefix to use for the barrier key. If None, the default is
+        used.
 
     Returns:
       A list of awaitable signals that may be sent for the current operation id.
@@ -80,6 +85,7 @@ def get_awaitable_signals_from_contract(
     barrier_key = cls.get_unique_awaitable_singal_key(
         synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal.AWAITABLE_SIGNALS_CONTRACT,
         operation_id,
+        prefix=prefix,
     )
     values_str = client.key_value_try_get(barrier_key)
     if values_str is None:
@@ -103,6 +109,7 @@ def get_awaitable_signals_from_contract(
   def add_to_awaitable_signals_contract(
       cls,
       signals: Sequence[synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal],
+      prefix: str | None = None,
   ):
     """Adds awaitable signals to `AWAITABLE_SIGNALS_CONTRACT` for lower checkpointing layers to wait on.
 
@@ -111,11 +118,15 @@ def add_to_awaitable_signals_contract(
 
     Args:
       signals: The signals to add to the list of awaitable signals.
+      prefix: The prefix to use for the barrier key. If None, the default is
+        used.
     """
     if not signals:
       return
 
-    current_signals = list(cls.get_awaitable_signals_from_contract())
+    current_signals = list(
+        cls.get_awaitable_signals_from_contract(prefix=prefix)
+    )
     current_signals.extend(signals)
     keys = ','.join(
         [current_signal.value for current_signal in current_signals]
@@ -127,6 +138,7 @@ def add_to_awaitable_signals_contract(
     barrier_key = cls.get_unique_awaitable_singal_key(
         synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal.AWAITABLE_SIGNALS_CONTRACT,
         operation_id,
+        prefix=prefix,
     )
     client.key_value_set(barrier_key, keys, allow_overwrite=True)
     logging.vlog(
@@ -139,15 +151,18 @@ def add_to_awaitable_signals_contract(
     )
 
   @classmethod
-  def remove_all_awaitable_signals(cls, operation_id: str | None = None):
+  def remove_all_awaitable_signals(
+      cls, operation_id: str | None = None, prefix: str | None = None
+  ):
     """Removes all awaitable signals for the current / given operation id."""
     operation_id = (
         operation_id
         or synchronization.OperationIdGenerator.get_current_operation_id()
     )
+    prefix = prefix or cls.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix
     client = signaling_client.get_signaling_client()
     client.key_value_delete(
-        f'{cls.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix}_{operation_id}/'
+        f'{prefix}_{operation_id}/'
     )
     logging.vlog(
         1,
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/path/atomicity.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/path/atomicity.py
index 01c3ae9d1..1ba4c14c0 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/path/atomicity.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/path/atomicity.py
@@ -731,6 +731,7 @@ def create_all_async(
     *,
     multiprocessing_options: options_lib.MultiprocessingOptions | None = None,
     subdirectories: Sequence[str] | None = None,
+    signals_prefix: str | None = None,
 ) -> future.Future:
   """Creates all temporary paths in parallel asynchronously.
 
@@ -743,6 +744,8 @@ def create_all_async(
     subdirectories: Sequence of subdirectories to create under `paths`. If not
       provided, no subdirectories will be created. The same set of
       subdirectories will be created under each path in `paths`.
+    signals_prefix: The prefix to use for the barrier key. If None, the default
+      is used.
 
   Returns:
     A future that which sends the completion signals when all paths are created.
@@ -775,7 +778,7 @@ def create_all_async(
         timeout_secs=multihost.coordination_timeout(),
     )
     future.AwaitableSignalsContract.add_to_awaitable_signals_contract(
-        completion_signals
+        completion_signals, prefix=signals_prefix
     )
 
   # Sync to enusre that all hosts have the same awaitable signals contract.
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager.py
index 1875d1add..b2544a9b3 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager.py
@@ -719,11 +719,6 @@ def __init__(
     self._options = options or CheckpointManagerOptions()
     self._multiprocessing_options = self._options.multiprocessing_options
 
-    if self._options.enable_per_process_directory_creation:
-      future.AwaitableSignalsContract.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix += (
-          f'_{multihost.process_index()}'
-      )
-
     self._save_decision_policy = (
         self._options.save_decision_policy
         or _get_default_save_decision_policy(self._options)
@@ -952,6 +947,11 @@ def _configure_checkpointer_common(
       use_async: bool,
   ) -> Checkpointer:
     if use_async:
+      signals_prefix = (
+          f'awaitable_signals_contract_{multihost.process_index()}'
+          if options.enable_per_process_directory_creation
+          else None
+      )
       return async_checkpointer.AsyncCheckpointer(
           handler,
           multiprocessing_options=options.multiprocessing_options,
@@ -959,6 +959,7 @@ def _configure_checkpointer_common(
           file_options=options.file_options,
           checkpoint_metadata_store=self._non_blocking_metadata_store,
           temporary_path_class=options.temporary_path_class,
+          signals_prefix=signals_prefix,
       )
     else:
       return Checkpointer(
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager_test.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager_test.py
index 92ecea130..6e25d71a4 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager_test.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/checkpoint_manager_test.py
@@ -153,6 +153,33 @@ def tearDown(self):
     test_utils.sync_global_processes('CheckpointManagerTest:tests_complete')
     super().tearDown()
 
+  def test_per_process_directory_creation_prefix(self):
+    options = checkpoint_manager.CheckpointManagerOptions(
+        enable_per_process_directory_creation=True,
+        multiprocessing_options=checkpoint_manager.MultiprocessingOptions(
+            primary_host=None
+        ),
+    )
+    signals_contract = checkpoint_manager.future.AwaitableSignalsContract
+    original_prefix = signals_contract.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix
+    try:
+      _ = checkpoint_manager.CheckpointManager(self.directory, options=options)
+      self.assertEqual(
+          signals_contract.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix,
+          original_prefix
+      )
+
+      options2 = checkpoint_manager.CheckpointManagerOptions(
+          enable_per_process_directory_creation=False
+      )
+      _ = checkpoint_manager.CheckpointManager(self.directory, options=options2)
+      self.assertEqual(
+          checkpoint_manager.future.AwaitableSignalsContract.awaitable_signals_contract_prefix,
+          original_prefix
+      )
+    finally:
+      pass
+
   def save_params(self, step, manager, params, metrics=None, force=False):
     return manager.save(
         step,