diff --git a/src/utils/ctl/cart_ctl.c b/src/utils/ctl/cart_ctl.c
index b251f5e9d79..3bdf65b2bbb 100644
--- a/src/utils/ctl/cart_ctl.c
+++ b/src/utils/ctl/cart_ctl.c
@@ -760,6 +760,13 @@ ctl_init()
 				   rc);
 	}
 
+	/* Stop the progress thread before destroying the group */
+	crtu_progress_stop();
+
+	rc = pthread_join(ctl_gdata.cg_tid, NULL);
+	if (rc != 0)
+		error_warn("Failed to join the threads; rc=%d\n", rc);
+
 	d_rank_list_free(rank_list);
 
 	if (ctl_gdata.cg_save_cfg) {
@@ -772,12 +779,6 @@ ctl_init()
 			error_warn("Failed to destroy the view; rc=%d\n", rc);
 	}
 
-	crtu_progress_stop();
-
-	rc = pthread_join(ctl_gdata.cg_tid, NULL);
-	if (rc != 0)
-		error_warn("Failed to join the threads; rc=%d\n", rc);
-
 	rc = sem_destroy(&ctl_gdata.cg_num_reply);
 	if (rc != 0)
 		error_warn("Failed to destroy a semaphore; rc=%d\n", rc);