diff --git a/bookkeeper-common/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/common/component/ComponentStarter.java b/bookkeeper-common/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/common/component/ComponentStarter.java
index d1cb08163c5..b8dfced36d5 100644
--- a/bookkeeper-common/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/common/component/ComponentStarter.java
+++ b/bookkeeper-common/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/common/component/ComponentStarter.java
@@ -76,7 +76,12 @@ public static CompletableFuture<Void> startComponent(LifecycleComponent componen
                     component.getName(), t, e);
             System.err.println(e.getMessage());
             // start the shutdown hook when an uncaught exception happen in the lifecycle component.
-            shutdownHookThread.start();
+            try {
+                shutdownHookThread.start();
+            } catch (IllegalThreadStateException ise) {
+                // the shutdown hook thread is already running (e.g. triggered by a prior
+                // exception or by the JVM shutdown sequence), so there is nothing else to do.
+            }
         });
 
         component.publishInfo(new ComponentInfoPublisher());