diff --git a/src/devices/emu/emu-net-device.cc b/src/devices/emu/emu-net-device.cc
index 4717e1794..4c0f94cde 100644
--- a/src/devices/emu/emu-net-device.cc
+++ b/src/devices/emu/emu-net-device.cc
@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ void
 EmuNetDevice::DoDispose()
 {
   NS_LOG_FUNCTION_NOARGS ();
+  if (m_readThread != 0)
+    {
+      StopDevice ();
+    }
   m_node = 0;
   NetDevice::DoDispose ();
 }