diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/pool.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/pool.py
index ccee961..7502ff8 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/pool.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/pool.py
@@ -493,7 +493,8 @@
         # We must wait for the worker handler to exit before terminating
         # workers because we don't want workers to be restarted behind our back.
         debug('joining worker handler')
-        worker_handler.join()
+        if threading.current_thread() is not worker_handler:
+            worker_handler.join()
 
         # Terminate workers which haven't already finished.
         if pool and hasattr(pool[0], 'terminate'):
@@ -503,10 +504,12 @@
                     p.terminate()
 
         debug('joining task handler')
-        task_handler.join()
+        if threading.current_thread() is not task_handler:
+            task_handler.join()
 
         debug('joining result handler')
-        result_handler.join()
+        if threading.current_thread() is not result_handler:
+            result_handler.join()
 
         if pool and hasattr(pool[0], 'terminate'):
             debug('joining pool workers')