diff --git a/rsContext.cpp b/rsContext.cpp
index 1bcea6b..ef77685 100644
--- a/rsContext.cpp
+++ b/rsContext.cpp
@@ -580,6 +580,11 @@
     timerSet(RS_TIMER_INTERNAL);
     if (mSynchronous) {
         threadProc(this);
+
+        if (mError != RS_ERROR_NONE) {
+            ALOGE("Errors during thread init (sync mode)");
+            return false;
+        }
     } else {
         status = pthread_create(&mThreadId, &threadAttr, threadProc, this);
         if (status) {
@@ -611,7 +616,7 @@
         int status = pthread_join(mThreadId, &res);
         rsAssert(mExit);
 
-        if (mHal.funcs.shutdownDriver) {
+        if (mHal.funcs.shutdownDriver && mHal.drv) {
             mHal.funcs.shutdownDriver(this);
         }