diff --git a/mysql-test/r/query_cache_debug.result b/mysql-test/r/query_cache_debug.result
index 30996e5e86b..50a3a02fe4d 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/query_cache_debug.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/query_cache_debug.result
@@ -123,16 +123,20 @@ SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked1_1";
 ** On THD2: Insert a result into the cache. This attempt will be blocked
 ** because of a debug hook placed just before the mutex lock after which
 ** the first part of the result set is written.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked2 WAIT_FOR go2";
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked2 WAIT_FOR go2 EXECUTE 1";
 SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t2 UNION SELECT * FROM t3;
+=================================== Connection default
+** Assert that the SELECT-stmt thread reaches the sync point.
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked2";
+**
+**
 =================================== Connection thd3
 ** On THD3: Insert another result into the cache and block on the same
 ** debug hook.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked3 WAIT_FOR go3";
-SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t4 UNION SELECT * FROM t5;;
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked3 WAIT_FOR go3 EXECUTE 1";
+SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t4 UNION SELECT * FROM t5;
 =================================== Connection default
-** Assert that the two SELECT-stmt threads to reach the hook.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked2";
+** Assert that the SELECT-stmt thread reaches the sync point.
 SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked3";
 **
 **
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/query_cache_debug.test b/mysql-test/t/query_cache_debug.test
index 77e714aa6f5..2f85813d1ef 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/query_cache_debug.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/query_cache_debug.test
@@ -170,20 +170,26 @@ connection thd2;
 --echo ** On THD2: Insert a result into the cache. This attempt will be blocked
 --echo ** because of a debug hook placed just before the mutex lock after which
 --echo ** the first part of the result set is written.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked2 WAIT_FOR go2";
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked2 WAIT_FOR go2 EXECUTE 1";
 --send SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t2 UNION SELECT * FROM t3
 
+connection default;
+--echo =================================== Connection default
+--echo ** Assert that the SELECT-stmt thread reaches the sync point.
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked2";
+--echo **
+--echo **
+
 connection thd3;
 --echo =================================== Connection thd3
 --echo ** On THD3: Insert another result into the cache and block on the same
 --echo ** debug hook.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked3 WAIT_FOR go3";
---send SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t4 UNION SELECT * FROM t5;
+SET DEBUG_SYNC="wait_in_query_cache_insert SIGNAL parked3 WAIT_FOR go3 EXECUTE 1";
+--send SELECT SQL_CACHE * FROM t4 UNION SELECT * FROM t5
 
 connection default;
 --echo =================================== Connection default
---echo ** Assert that the two SELECT-stmt threads to reach the hook.
-SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked2";
+--echo ** Assert that the SELECT-stmt thread reaches the sync point.
 SET DEBUG_SYNC="now WAIT_FOR parked3";
 --echo **
 --echo **
diff --git a/sql/sql_cache.cc b/sql/sql_cache.cc
index 8c3abdbf1b0..9876c46bbb3 100644
--- a/sql/sql_cache.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_cache.cc
@@ -384,6 +384,22 @@ TODO list:
 #endif
 
 
+/**
+  Macro that executes the requested action at a synchronization point
+  only if the thread has a associated THD session.
+*/
+#if defined(ENABLED_DEBUG_SYNC)
+#define QC_DEBUG_SYNC(name)               \
+  do {                                    \
+    THD *thd= current_thd;                \
+    if (thd)                              \
+      DEBUG_SYNC(thd, name);              \
+  } while (0)
+#else
+#define QC_DEBUG_SYNC(name)
+#endif
+
+
 /**
   Thread state to be used when the query cache lock needs to be acquired.
   Sets the thread state name in the constructor, resets on destructor.
@@ -879,7 +895,7 @@ Query_cache::insert(Query_cache_tls *query_cache_tls,
   if (is_disabled() || query_cache_tls->first_query_block == NULL)
     DBUG_VOID_RETURN;
 
-  DEBUG_SYNC(current_thd, "wait_in_query_cache_insert");
+  QC_DEBUG_SYNC("wait_in_query_cache_insert");
 
   if (try_lock())
     DBUG_VOID_RETURN;
@@ -1975,7 +1991,7 @@ void Query_cache::flush()
   if (is_disabled())
     DBUG_VOID_RETURN;
 
-  DEBUG_SYNC(current_thd, "wait_in_query_cache_flush1");
+  QC_DEBUG_SYNC("wait_in_query_cache_flush1");
 
   lock_and_suspend();
   if (query_cache_size > 0)
@@ -2315,7 +2331,7 @@ void Query_cache::free_cache()
 
 void Query_cache::flush_cache()
 {
-  DEBUG_SYNC(current_thd, "wait_in_query_cache_flush2");
+  QC_DEBUG_SYNC("wait_in_query_cache_flush2");
 
   my_hash_reset(&queries);
   while (queries_blocks != 0)