diff --git a/aexpect/client.py b/aexpect/client.py
index d1dfed4..0b60dbd 100644
--- a/aexpect/client.py
+++ b/aexpect/client.py
@@ -536,6 +536,7 @@ def __init__(self, command=None, a_id=None, auto_close=False, echo=False,
         :param encoding: Override text encoding (by default: autodetect by
                 locale.getpreferredencoding())
         """
+        self.tail_thread = None
         # Add a reader and a close hook
         self._add_reader("tail")
         self._add_close_hook(Tail._join_thread)
@@ -556,7 +557,6 @@ def __init__(self, command=None, a_id=None, auto_close=False, echo=False,
         self.output_prefix = output_prefix
 
         # Start the thread in the background
-        self.tail_thread = None
         if self.is_alive():
             if termination_func or output_func:
                 self._start_thread()