diff --git a/lib/libthr/thread/thr_cancel.c b/lib/libthr/thread/thr_cancel.c
index 0f131497aac5..fdcdb2c1051f 100644
--- a/lib/libthr/thread/thr_cancel.c
+++ b/lib/libthr/thread/thr_cancel.c
@@ -132,8 +132,10 @@ _pthread_setcanceltype(int type, int *oldtype)
 void
 _pthread_testcancel(void)
 {
-	struct pthread *curthread = _get_curthread();
+	struct pthread *curthread;
 
+	_thr_check_init();
+	curthread = _get_curthread();
 	testcancel(curthread);
 }