diff --git a/apps/app_meetme.c b/apps/app_meetme.c
index ad547e5099..e079898ea6 100644
--- a/apps/app_meetme.c
+++ b/apps/app_meetme.c
@@ -4792,7 +4792,8 @@ static int sla_load_config(void)
 
 	ast_config_destroy(cfg);
 
-	ast_pthread_create(&sla.thread, NULL, sla_thread, NULL);
+	if (!AST_LIST_EMPTY(&sla_stations) || !AST_LIST_EMPTY(&sla_stations))
+		ast_pthread_create(&sla.thread, NULL, sla_thread, NULL);
 
 	return res;
 }