diff --git a/panda/src/pipeline/threadPosixImpl.I b/panda/src/pipeline/threadPosixImpl.I
index 308dc3ede0..326868ab61 100644
--- a/panda/src/pipeline/threadPosixImpl.I
+++ b/panda/src/pipeline/threadPosixImpl.I
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ ThreadPosixImpl(Thread *parent_obj) :
   _parent_obj(parent_obj)
 {
   _joinable = false;
-  _detached = false;
+  _detached = true;
   _status = S_new;
 #ifdef ANDROID
   _jni_env = nullptr;