diff --git a/src/ca/ca_client_context.cpp b/src/ca/ca_client_context.cpp
index 5a25de0d0..a7a89ef97 100644
--- a/src/ca/ca_client_context.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/ca_client_context.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ static epicsThreadOnceId cacOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
 extern "C" void cacExitHandler (void *)
 {
     epicsThreadPrivateDelete ( caClientCallbackThreadId );
+    caClientCallbackThreadId = 0;
 }
 
 // runs once only for each process