diff --git a/torchdata/datapipes/iter/util/prefetcher.py b/torchdata/datapipes/iter/util/prefetcher.py
index 8ec13fbc3..8cd66f559 100644
--- a/torchdata/datapipes/iter/util/prefetcher.py
+++ b/torchdata/datapipes/iter/util/prefetcher.py
@@ -87,9 +87,10 @@ def __iter__(self):
             try:
                 prefetch_data = _PrefetchData(self.source_datapipe, self.buffer_size)
                 self.prefetch_data = prefetch_data
-                self.thread = threading.Thread(
+                thread = threading.Thread(
                     target=PrefetcherIterDataPipe.thread_worker, args=(prefetch_data,), daemon=True
                 )
+                self.thread = thread
                 self.thread.start()
                 while prefetch_data.run_prefetcher:
                     if len(prefetch_data.prefetch_buffer) > 0:
@@ -99,9 +100,7 @@ def __iter__(self):
                         time.sleep(CONSUMER_SLEEP_INTERVAL)
             finally:
                 prefetch_data.run_prefetcher = False
-                if self.thread is not None:
-                    self.thread.join()
-                    self.thread = None
+                thread.join()
 
     def __getstate__(self):
         """
@@ -124,3 +123,4 @@ def reset(self):
         if self.thread is not None:
             self.prefetch_data.run_prefetcher = False
             self.thread.join()
+            self.thread = None