diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/nci/nci_dev.c b/tools/testing/selftests/nci/nci_dev.c
index 23fd38acfcf4..07427fa42888 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/nci/nci_dev.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/nci/nci_dev.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -87,6 +88,16 @@ struct msgtemplate {
 	char buf[MAX_MSG_SIZE];
 };
 
+static int join_thread_status(pthread_t thread)
+{
+	void *thread_ret = NULL;
+
+	if (pthread_join(thread, &thread_ret))
+		return -1;
+
+	return (int)(intptr_t)thread_ret;
+}
+
 static int create_nl_socket(void)
 {
 	int fd;
@@ -444,7 +455,7 @@ FIXTURE_SETUP(NCI)
 			       NFC_CMD_DEV_UP, self->dev_idex);
 	EXPECT_EQ(rc, 0);
 
-	pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
+	status = join_thread_status(thread_t);
 	ASSERT_EQ(status, 0);
 	self->open_state = true;
 }
@@ -514,7 +525,7 @@ FIXTURE_TEARDOWN(NCI)
 				       NFC_CMD_DEV_DOWN, self->dev_idex);
 		EXPECT_EQ(rc, 0);
 
-		pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
+		status = join_thread_status(thread_t);
 		ASSERT_EQ(status, 0);
 	}
 
@@ -585,7 +596,6 @@ int start_polling(int dev_idx, int proto, int virtual_fd, int sd, int fid, int p
 	void *nla_start_poll_data[2] = {&dev_idx, &proto};
 	int nla_start_poll_len[2] = {4, 4};
 	pthread_t thread_t;
-	int status;
 	int rc;
 
 	rc = pthread_create(&thread_t, NULL, virtual_poll_start,
@@ -598,14 +608,12 @@ int start_polling(int dev_idx, int proto, int virtual_fd, int sd, int fid, int p
 	if (rc != 0)
 		return rc;
 
-	pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
-	return status;
+	return join_thread_status(thread_t);
 }
 
 int stop_polling(int dev_idx, int virtual_fd, int sd, int fid, int pid)
 {
 	pthread_t thread_t;
-	int status;
 	int rc;
 
 	rc = pthread_create(&thread_t, NULL, virtual_poll_stop,
@@ -618,8 +626,7 @@ int stop_polling(int dev_idx, int virtual_fd, int sd, int fid, int pid)
 	if (rc != 0)
 		return rc;
 
-	pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
-	return status;
+	return join_thread_status(thread_t);
 }
 
 TEST_F(NCI, start_poll)
@@ -834,8 +841,10 @@ int disconnect_tag(int nfc_sock, int virtual_fd)
 		return status;
 
 	close(nfc_sock);
-	pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
-	return status;
+	if (status)
+		return -1;
+
+	return join_thread_status(thread_t);
 }
 
 TEST_F(NCI, t4t_tag_read)
@@ -882,7 +891,7 @@ TEST_F(NCI, deinit)
 			       NFC_CMD_DEV_DOWN, self->dev_idex);
 	EXPECT_EQ(rc, 0);
 
-	pthread_join(thread_t, (void **)&status);
+	status = join_thread_status(thread_t);
 	self->open_state = 0;
 	ASSERT_EQ(status, 0);