diff --git a/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.cc b/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.cc
index 9ca1bf536b..9dd4a7f007 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.cc
+++ b/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.cc
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ using namespace std;
 
 CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_REGISTRATION (SignalsTest);
 
+void
+SignalsTest::setUp ()
+{
+	if (!Glib::thread_supported ()) {
+		Glib::thread_init ();
+	}
+}
+
 class Emitter {
 public:
 	void emit () {
diff --git a/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.h b/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.h
index 8beb02ab1e..37fa9d9f96 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.h
+++ b/libs/pbd/test/signals_test.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class SignalsTest : public CppUnit::TestFixture
 	CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_END ();
 
 public:
+	void setUp ();
 	void testEmission ();
 	void testDestruction ();
 	void testScopedConnectionList ();