diff --git a/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c b/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
index f1577e785fa..323a97c69ba 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
@@ -979,6 +979,8 @@ ParallelBackupStart(ArchiveHandle *AH)
 
 		handle = _beginthreadex(NULL, 0, (void *) &init_spawned_worker_win32,
 								wi, 0, &(slot->threadId));
+		if (handle == 0)
+			fatal("could not create worker thread: %m");
 		slot->hThread = handle;
 		slot->workerStatus = WRKR_IDLE;
 #else							/* !WIN32 */