diff --git a/tests/test-qmp-event.c b/tests/test-qmp-event.c
index cb1e4418ec..cb354e6e81 100644
--- a/tests/test-qmp-event.c
+++ b/tests/test-qmp-event.c
@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ static void test_event_d(TestEventData *data,
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
+#if !GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 31, 0)
+    if (!g_thread_supported()) {
+       g_thread_init(NULL);
+    }
+#endif
+
     qmp_event_set_func_emit(event_test_emit);
 
     g_test_init(&argc, &argv, NULL);