diff --git a/threads.py b/threads.py
index c2b04ce7a..e85509294 100644
--- a/threads.py
+++ b/threads.py
@@ -88,11 +88,12 @@ def removeDormantThreads(baseDir: str,threadsList: [],debug: bool) -> None:
                 if debug:
                     print('DEBUG: thread is not alive')
                 removeThread=True
-            # timeout for started threads
-            if (currTime-th.startTime).total_seconds()>120:
-                if debug:
-                    print('DEBUG: started thread timed out')
-                removeThread=True
+            else:
+                # timeout for started threads
+                if (currTime-th.startTime).total_seconds()>120:
+                    if debug:
+                        print('DEBUG: started thread timed out')
+                    removeThread=True
         else:
             # timeout for threads which havn't been started
             if (currTime-th.startTime).total_seconds()>60*10: