diff --git a/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c b/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
index 37cfd1a72..0569f37e2 100644
--- a/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
+++ b/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
@@ -165,13 +165,10 @@ spdk_fio_stop_poller(struct spdk_bdev_poller **ppoller)
 	fio_poller = *(struct spdk_fio_poller **)ppoller;
 
 	fio_thread = g_thread;
-	if (!fio_thread) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("Expected local thread to be initialized, but it was not.\n");
-		return;
+	if (fio_thread) {
+		TAILQ_REMOVE(&fio_thread->pollers, fio_poller, link);
 	}
 
-	TAILQ_REMOVE(&fio_thread->pollers, fio_poller, link);
-
 	free(fio_poller);
 	*ppoller = NULL;
 }