diff --git a/crypto/initthread.c b/crypto/initthread.c
index da30d59fecad89cddabaced262bcee1439d3d66c..a5f770e200508652722f12ff98ae3b06a2bb44dc 100644
--- a/crypto/initthread.c
+++ b/crypto/initthread.c
@@ -380,6 +380,8 @@ static int init_thread_deregister(void *index, int all)
     int i;
 
     gtr = get_global_tevent_register();
+    if (gtr == NULL)
+        return 0;
     if (!all)
         CRYPTO_THREAD_write_lock(gtr->lock);
     for (i = 0; i < sk_THREAD_EVENT_HANDLER_PTR_num(gtr->skhands); i++) {