diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
index 8207994e1b..75af56b7d7 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
@@ -323,8 +323,10 @@ bool Scheduler::thread_create(AP_HAL::MemberProc proc, const char *name, uint32_
     a->stack_size = stack_size;
     a->f[0] = proc;
     a->name = name;
-    
-    pthread_attr_init(&a->attr);
+
+    if (pthread_attr_init(&a->attr) != 0) {
+        goto failed;
+    }
 #if SITL_STACK_CHECKING_ENABLED
     if (pthread_attr_setstack(&a->attr, a->stack, alloc_stack) != 0) {
         AP_HAL::panic("Failed to set stack of size %u for thread %s", alloc_stack, name);