diff --git a/lib/thread/thread.c b/lib/thread/thread.c
index b2ae25588..65ddd5bde 100644
--- a/lib/thread/thread.c
+++ b/lib/thread/thread.c
@@ -1140,6 +1140,12 @@ spdk_get_io_channel(void *io_device)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	if (spdk_unlikely(thread->exit)) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Thread %s is marked as exited\n", thread->name);
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_devlist_mutex);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(ch, &thread->io_channels, tailq) {
 		if (ch->dev == dev) {
 			ch->ref++;
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/thread/thread.c/thread_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/thread/thread.c/thread_ut.c
index 407bfc05d..c3b5d19d3 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/thread/thread.c/thread_ut.c
+++ b/test/unit/lib/thread/thread.c/thread_ut.c
@@ -801,6 +801,10 @@ thread_exit(void)
 	thread = spdk_get_thread();
 	spdk_thread_exit(thread);
 
+	/* Thread will not be able to get I/O channel after it is marked as exited. */
+	ch = spdk_get_io_channel(&g_device1);
+	CU_ASSERT(ch == NULL);
+
 	poll_threads();
 	CU_ASSERT(g_destroy_cb_calls == 1);