diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index b56e0cb378..624da0fd3c 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2185,7 +2185,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     error_set_progname(argv[0]);
 
     g_mem_set_vtable(&mem_trace);
-    g_thread_init(NULL);
+    if (!g_thread_supported()) {
+        g_thread_init(NULL);
+    }
 
     runstate_init();