diff --git a/kernel/irq/handle.c b/kernel/irq/handle.c
index 6ff84e6a954c..bdb180325551 100644
--- a/kernel/irq/handle.c
+++ b/kernel/irq/handle.c
@@ -54,14 +54,18 @@ static void warn_no_thread(unsigned int irq, struct irqaction *action)
 static void irq_wake_thread(struct irq_desc *desc, struct irqaction *action)
 {
 	/*
-	 * Wake up the handler thread for this action. In case the
-	 * thread crashed and was killed we just pretend that we
-	 * handled the interrupt. The hardirq handler has disabled the
-	 * device interrupt, so no irq storm is lurking. If the
+	 * In case the thread crashed and was killed we just pretend that
+	 * we handled the interrupt. The hardirq handler has disabled the
+	 * device interrupt, so no irq storm is lurking.
+	 */
+	if (action->thread->flags & PF_EXITING)
+		return;
+
+	/*
+	 * Wake up the handler thread for this action. If the
 	 * RUNTHREAD bit is already set, nothing to do.
 	 */
-	if ((action->thread->flags & PF_EXITING) ||
-	    test_and_set_bit(IRQTF_RUNTHREAD, &action->thread_flags))
+	if (test_and_set_bit(IRQTF_RUNTHREAD, &action->thread_flags))
 		return;
 
 	/*