diff --git a/src/core/thread.d b/src/core/thread.d
index 8b103ee03f..aeaffa0a42 100644
--- a/src/core/thread.d
+++ b/src/core/thread.d
@@ -1052,7 +1052,6 @@ class Thread
     // Thread Accessors
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-
     /**
      * Provides a reference to the calling thread.
      *
@@ -1066,7 +1065,19 @@ class Thread
         // NOTE: This function may not be called until thread_init has
         //       completed.  See thread_suspendAll for more information
         //       on why this might occur.
-        return sm_this;
+        version( OSX )
+        {
+            return sm_this;
+        }
+        else version( Posix )
+        {
+            auto t = cast(Thread) pthread_getspecific( sm_this );
+            return t;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return sm_this;
+        }
     }
 
 
@@ -1225,7 +1236,22 @@ private:
     //
     // Local storage
     //
-    static Thread       sm_this;
+    version( OSX )
+    {
+        static Thread       sm_this;
+    }
+    else version( Posix )
+    {
+        // On Posix (excluding OSX), pthread_key_t is explicitly used to
+        // store and access thread reference. This is needed
+        // to avoid TLS access in signal handlers (malloc deadlock)
+        // when using shared libraries, see issue 11981.
+        __gshared pthread_key_t sm_this;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        static Thread       sm_this;
+    }
 
 
     //
@@ -1274,7 +1300,18 @@ private:
     //
     static void setThis( Thread t )
     {
-        sm_this = t;
+        version( OSX )
+        {
+            sm_this = t;
+        }
+        else version( Posix )
+        { 
+            pthread_setspecific( sm_this, cast(void*) t );
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            sm_this = t;
+        }
     }
 
 
@@ -1754,6 +1791,9 @@ extern (C) void thread_init()
 
         status = sem_init( &suspendCount, 0, 0 );
         assert( status == 0 );
+
+        status = pthread_key_create( &Thread.sm_this, null );
+        assert( status == 0 );
     }
     Thread.sm_main = thread_attachThis();
 }
@@ -1766,6 +1806,14 @@ extern (C) void thread_init()
 extern (C) void thread_term()
 {
     Thread.termLocks();
+
+    version( OSX )
+    {
+    }
+    else version( Posix )
+    {
+        pthread_key_delete( Thread.sm_this );
+    }
 }