diff --git a/src/panels/information/kloadmetadatathread.cpp b/src/panels/information/kloadmetadatathread.cpp
index 5886775b67..e95aca4045 100644
--- a/src/panels/information/kloadmetadatathread.cpp
+++ b/src/panels/information/kloadmetadatathread.cpp
@@ -55,11 +55,16 @@ void KLoadMetaDataThread::load(const KUrl::List& urls)
 
 void KLoadMetaDataThread::cancelAndDelete()
 {
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(slotFinished()));
-    m_canceled = true;
-    // Setting m_canceled to true will cancel KLoadMetaDataThread::run()
-    // as soon as possible. Afterwards the thread will delete itself
-    // asynchronously inside slotFinished().
+    if (isFinished()) {
+        Q_ASSERT(!isRunning());
+        deleteLater();
+    } else {
+        connect(this, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(slotFinished()));
+        m_canceled = true;
+        // Setting m_canceled to true will cancel KLoadMetaDataThread::run()
+        // as soon as possible. Afterwards the thread will delete itself
+        // asynchronously inside slotFinished().
+    }
 }
 
 void KLoadMetaDataThread::run()
diff --git a/src/panels/information/kmetadatawidget.cpp b/src/panels/information/kmetadatawidget.cpp
index 14a784af46..ebcaca211c 100644
--- a/src/panels/information/kmetadatawidget.cpp
+++ b/src/panels/information/kmetadatawidget.cpp
@@ -436,6 +436,8 @@ void KMetaDataWidget::Private::slotLoadingFinished()
 
     m_files = m_loadMetaDataThread->files();
 
+    Q_ASSERT(!m_loadMetaDataThread->isRunning());
+    Q_ASSERT(m_loadMetaDataThread->isFinished());
     m_loadMetaDataThread->deleteLater();
     m_loadMetaDataThread = 0;
 #endif