diff --git a/libutils/Threads.cpp b/libutils/Threads.cpp
index def739f9fb90..7a56fc5c4418 100644
--- a/libutils/Threads.cpp
+++ b/libutils/Threads.cpp
@@ -668,7 +668,10 @@ status_t Thread::readyToRun()
 
 status_t Thread::run(const char* name, int32_t priority, size_t stack)
 {
-    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(name == nullptr, "thread name not provided to Thread::run");
+    if (name == nullptr) {
+        ALOGW("Thread name not provided to Thread::run");
+        name = 0;
+    }
 
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);