diff --git a/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c b/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
index 5133d2086..10f4914fd 100644
--- a/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
+++ b/examples/bdev/fio_plugin/fio_plugin.c
@@ -164,10 +164,13 @@ spdk_fio_stop_poller(struct spdk_bdev_poller **ppoller)
 	fio_poller = *(struct spdk_fio_poller **)ppoller;
 
 	fio_thread = g_thread;
-	if (fio_thread) {
-		TAILQ_REMOVE(&fio_thread->pollers, fio_poller, link);
+	if (!fio_thread) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Expected local thread to be initialized, but it was not.\n");
+		return;
 	}
 
+	TAILQ_REMOVE(&fio_thread->pollers, fio_poller, link);
+
 	free(fio_poller);
 	*ppoller = NULL;
 }