diff --git a/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/nixl_connector.py b/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/nixl_connector.py
index b3f2ae703..87091d650 100644
--- a/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/nixl_connector.py
+++ b/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/nixl_connector.py
@@ -2506,6 +2506,9 @@ class NixlConnectorWorker:
 
     def shutdown(self):
         """Shutdown the connector worker."""
+        if not hasattr(self, "_handshake_initiation_executor"):
+            # error happens during init, no need to shutdown
+            return
         self._handshake_initiation_executor.shutdown(wait=False)
         for handles in self._recving_transfers.values():
             for handle in handles: