diff --git a/apps/app_meetme.c b/apps/app_meetme.c
index b7a72aeb7e..95f1e44442 100644
--- a/apps/app_meetme.c
+++ b/apps/app_meetme.c
@@ -5510,7 +5510,7 @@ static int sla_load_config(int reload)
 
 	ast_config_destroy(cfg);
 
-	if (!reload)
+	if (!reload && (!AST_LIST_EMPTY(&sla_stations) || !AST_LIST_EMPTY(&sla_stations)))
 		ast_pthread_create(&sla.thread, NULL, sla_thread, NULL);
 
 	return res;