diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
index df054c9cd26..ae05ea17c30 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
@@ -196,9 +196,13 @@ int nx_pthread_create(pthread_trampoline_t trampoline, FAR pthread_t *thread,
 
   if (!attr)
     {
-      /* Inherit parent priority by default */
+      /* Inherit parent priority by default. except idle */
+
+      if (!is_idle_task(parent))
+        {
+          default_attr.priority = parent->sched_priority;
+        }
 
-      default_attr.priority = parent->sched_priority;
       attr = &default_attr;
     }