diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c b/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
index f0c6f6f36..edeeac524 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
@@ -223,19 +223,12 @@ void dbCaShutdown(void)
     }
 }
 
-static void dbCaExit(void *arg)
-{
-    dbCaShutdown();
-}
-
 void dbCaLinkInitIsolated(void)
 {
     if (!workListLock)
         workListLock = epicsMutexMustCreate();
-    if (!workListEvent) {
+    if (!workListEvent)
         workListEvent = epicsEventMustCreate(epicsEventEmpty);
-        epicsAtExit(dbCaExit, NULL);
-    }
     dbCaCtl = ctlExit;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ioc/misc/iocInit.c b/src/ioc/misc/iocInit.c
index 9759ba18f..1e30eeb77 100644
--- a/src/ioc/misc/iocInit.c
+++ b/src/ioc/misc/iocInit.c
@@ -682,6 +682,9 @@ int iocShutdown(void)
         /* stop and "join" threads */
         scanStop();
         callbackStop();
+    }
+    dbCaShutdown();
+    if (iocBuildMode==buildIsolated) {
         /* free resources */
         scanCleanup();
         callbackCleanup();