diff --git a/src/common/threadpool.cpp b/src/common/threadpool.cpp
index 7fd16ceaf..51e071577 100644
--- a/src/common/threadpool.cpp
+++ b/src/common/threadpool.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 // INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
 // STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF
 // THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+#include "misc_log_ex.h"
 #include "common/threadpool.h"
 
 #include <cassert>
@@ -81,6 +82,23 @@ int threadpool::get_max_concurrency() {
   return max;
 }
 
+threadpool::waiter::~waiter()
+{
+  {
+    boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> lock(mt);
+    if (num)
+      MERROR("wait should have been called before waiter dtor - waiting now");
+  }
+  try
+  {
+    wait();
+  }
+  catch (const std::exception &e)
+  {
+    /* ignored */
+  }
+}
+
 void threadpool::waiter::wait() {
   boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> lock(mt);
   while(num) cv.wait(lock);
diff --git a/src/common/threadpool.h b/src/common/threadpool.h
index a0e53b011..34152541c 100644
--- a/src/common/threadpool.h
+++ b/src/common/threadpool.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 namespace tools
 {
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ public:
     void dec();
     void wait();  //! Wait for a set of tasks to finish.
     waiter() : num(0){}
-    ~waiter() { wait(); }
+    ~waiter();
   };
 
   // Submit a task to the pool. The waiter pointer may be