diff --git a/src/backend/threads.c b/src/backend/threads.c
index 77f5bb45f..11f70ac7a 100644
--- a/src/backend/threads.c
+++ b/src/backend/threads.c
@@ -98,10 +98,11 @@ lumiera_thread_run (enum lumiera_thread_class kind,
   pthread_mutex_lock (&threads_mutex);
 
   pthread_t dummy;
-  pthread_create (&dummy, &attrs, pthread_runner, &thread);
+  int error = pthread_create (&dummy, &attrs, pthread_runner, &thread);
 
   pthread_mutex_unlock (&threads_mutex);
 
+  if (error) return 0;        /////TODO temporary addition by Ichthyo; probably we'll set lumiera_error?
   return (LumieraThread) 1;
 }