diff --git a/cec/hdmi_cec.c b/cec/hdmi_cec.c
index bb9a1ba..ee2c125 100644
--- a/cec/hdmi_cec.c
+++ b/cec/hdmi_cec.c
@@ -462,7 +462,8 @@ static int hdmicec_close(struct hdmi_cec_device *dev)
 
     if (ctx->exit_fd > 0) {
         write(ctx->exit_fd, &tmp, sizeof(tmp));
-        pthread_join(ctx->thread, NULL);
+        if (ctx->thread)
+            pthread_join(ctx->thread, NULL);
     }
 
     if (ctx->cec_fd > 0)