diff --git a/lib/std/Thread/WaitGroup.zig b/lib/std/Thread/WaitGroup.zig
index cbc3ff0c8f..cff474c863 100644
--- a/lib/std/Thread/WaitGroup.zig
+++ b/lib/std/Thread/WaitGroup.zig
@@ -63,5 +63,6 @@ pub fn spawnManager(
         }
     };
     wg.start();
-    _ = std.Thread.spawn(.{}, Manager.run, .{ wg, args }) catch Manager.run(wg, args);
+    const t = std.Thread.spawn(.{}, Manager.run, .{ wg, args }) catch return Manager.run(wg, args);
+    t.detach();
 }