diff --git a/libs/core/futures/src/future_data.cpp b/libs/core/futures/src/future_data.cpp
index 4c608c77399a..9d0285505509 100644
--- a/libs/core/futures/src/future_data.cpp
+++ b/libs/core/futures/src/future_data.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ namespace hpx::lcos::detail {
         // this thread would block on the future
         threads::thread_id_ref_type runs_child = runs_child_;
 
+        if (!runs_child)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         auto* thrd = get_thread_id_data(runs_child);
         HPX_UNUSED(thrd);    // might be unused