diff --git a/modules/juce_core/threads/juce_Thread.cpp b/modules/juce_core/threads/juce_Thread.cpp
index 70318dc3ad..3d1ff0ab1a 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/threads/juce_Thread.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/threads/juce_Thread.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ bool Thread::setPriority (const int newPriority)
 
     const ScopedLock sl (startStopLock);
 
-    if (setThreadPriority (threadHandle, newPriority))
+    if ((! isThreadRunning()) || setThreadPriority (threadHandle, newPriority))
     {
         threadPriority = newPriority;
         return true;