diff --git a/libs/libc/pthread/pthread_barrierdestroy.c b/libs/libc/pthread/pthread_barrierdestroy.c
index 03bd2d9900..11625f5c4c 100644
--- a/libs/libc/pthread/pthread_barrierdestroy.c
+++ b/libs/libc/pthread/pthread_barrierdestroy.c
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 
 int pthread_barrier_destroy(FAR pthread_barrier_t *barrier)
 {
+  int semcount;
   int ret = OK;
 
   if (!barrier)
@@ -69,6 +70,17 @@ int pthread_barrier_destroy(FAR pthread_barrier_t *barrier)
     }
   else
     {
+      ret = sem_getvalue(&barrier->sem, &semcount);
+      if (ret != OK)
+        {
+          return ret;
+        }
+
+      if (semcount < 0)
+        {
+          return EBUSY;
+        }
+
       sem_destroy(&barrier->sem);
       barrier->count = 0;
     }