diff --git a/runtime/src/worker_thread.c b/runtime/src/worker_thread.c
index 5404367..cc19d31 100644
--- a/runtime/src/worker_thread.c
+++ b/runtime/src/worker_thread.c
@@ -205,8 +205,7 @@ worker_thread_main(void *return_code)
 		local_completion_queue_free();
 	}
 
-	*(int *)return_code = -1;
-	pthread_exit(return_code);
+	panic("Worker Thread unexpectedly completed run loop.");
 }
 
 /**