diff --git a/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver.go b/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver.go
index d27e8a584a..0abb2d049f 100644
--- a/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver.go
+++ b/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver.go
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ type Receiver struct {
 
 	args Arguments
 
+	// The mutex is needed because the live debugging service can trigger an update
+	// concurrently to add/remove the live debugging consumer.
 	updateMut sync.Mutex
 }
 
@@ -128,8 +130,14 @@ func (r *Receiver) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 // the underlying OpenTelemetry Collector receiver.
 func (r *Receiver) Update(args component.Arguments) error {
 	r.updateMut.Lock()
-	defer r.updateMut.Unlock()
 	r.args = args.(Arguments)
+	r.updateMut.Unlock()
+	return r.update()
+}
+
+func (r *Receiver) update() error {
+	r.updateMut.Lock()
+	defer r.updateMut.Unlock()
 
 	host := scheduler.NewHost(
 		r.opts.Logger,
@@ -241,5 +249,5 @@ func (r *Receiver) CurrentHealth() component.Health {
 }
 
 func (p *Receiver) LiveDebugging(_ int) {
-	p.Update(p.args)
+	p.update()
 }
diff --git a/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver_test.go b/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver_test.go
index 29d263c9a4..19ce33c53a 100644
--- a/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver_test.go
+++ b/internal/component/otelcol/receiver/receiver_test.go
@@ -127,6 +127,31 @@ func TestReceiverUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorContains(t, waitConsumerTrigger.Wait(time.Second), "context deadline exceeded")
 }
 
+// This test will trigger a race error if the update function is not properly protected with a mutex
+// because the live debugging service can call the update function concurrently.
+func TestReceiverUpdateLiveDebugging(t *testing.T) {
+	te := newTestEnvironment(t, func(t otelconsumer.Traces) {})
+	te.Start(fakeReceiverArgs{
+		Output: &otelcol.ConsumerArguments{},
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, te.Controller.WaitRunning(50*time.Millisecond))
+
+	go func() {
+		for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+			te.Controller.Update(fakeReceiverArgs{
+				Output: &otelcol.ConsumerArguments{},
+			})
+		}
+	}()
+
+	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+		cp, err := te.Controller.GetComponent()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		cp.(*receiver.Receiver).LiveDebugging(1)
+	}
+}
+
 type testEnvironment struct {
 	t *testing.T