diff --git a/src/ca/processThread.cpp b/src/ca/processThread.cpp
index 33d28b23a..3be2f08b2 100644
--- a/src/ca/processThread.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/processThread.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 #include <iocinf.h>
 
 processThread::processThread (cac *pcacIn) :
-    osiThread ("CAC process", 0x1000, threadPriorityMedium), 
+    osiThread (), 
     pcac (pcacIn),
     shutDown (false)
 {
+    start("CAC process", 0x1000, threadPriorityMedium);
 }
 
 processThread::~processThread ()
diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.cpp b/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.cpp
index 40f326af0..92205479d 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.cpp
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.cpp
@@ -19,16 +19,22 @@ static void osiThreadCallEntryPoint (void *pPvt)
     pThread->exit.signal ();
 }
 
-osiThread::osiThread (const char *name, unsigned stackSize,
-                    unsigned priority)
+
+osiThread::osiThread () : id(0), exit()
 {
-    this->id =  threadCreate (name, priority, stackSize,
-        osiThreadCallEntryPoint, static_cast <void *> (this) );
 }
 
 osiThread::~osiThread ()
 {
     while ( !this->exit.wait (5.0) ) {
-        printf ("osiThread::~osiThread (): Warning, thread object destroyed before thread exit \n");
+        printf ("osiThread::~osiThread ():"
+                " Warning, thread object destroyed before thread exit \n");
     }
 }
+
+void osiThread::start(const char *name, unsigned stackSize, unsigned priority)
+{
+    id = threadCreate (name, priority, stackSize,
+        osiThreadCallEntryPoint, static_cast <void *> (this) );
+}
+
diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.h b/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.h
index 615cbb177..fc248aea1 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.h
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/osiThread.h
@@ -99,10 +99,12 @@ epicsShareFunc void * epicsShareAPI threadPrivateGet (threadPrivateId);
 
 class epicsShareClass osiThread {
 public:
-    osiThread (const char *name, unsigned stackSize,
-        unsigned priority=threadPriorityLow);
+    osiThread();
     virtual ~osiThread ();
 
+    void start(const char *name, unsigned stackSize,
+        unsigned priority=threadPriorityLow);
+
     virtual void entryPoint () = 0;
 
     void resume ();
diff --git a/src/libCom/timer/osiTimer.cpp b/src/libCom/timer/osiTimer.cpp
index 739483448..32cb27b18 100644
--- a/src/libCom/timer/osiTimer.cpp
+++ b/src/libCom/timer/osiTimer.cpp
@@ -438,9 +438,9 @@ osiTimerQueue::~osiTimerQueue()
 // osiTimerThread::osiTimerThread ()
 //
 osiTimerThread::osiTimerThread (osiTimerQueue &queueIn, unsigned priority) :
-    osiThread ("osiTimerQueue", threadGetStackSize (threadStackMedium), priority),
-        queue (queueIn)
+    osiThread (), queue (queueIn)
 {
+    start("osiTimerQueue", threadGetStackSize (threadStackMedium), priority);
 }
 
 //