diff --git a/test/ruby/test_thread.rb b/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
index 1ef6dadf2b..57080ac6ea 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
@@ -1048,4 +1048,14 @@ q.pop
     assert_not_predicate(status, :signaled?, FailDesc[status, bug9751, output])
     assert_predicate(status, :success?, bug9751)
   end if Process.respond_to?(:fork)
+
+  def test_thread_interrupt_for_killed_thread
+    assert_normal_exit(<<-_end, '[Bug #8996]', timeout: 5)
+      trap(/mswin|mignw/ =~ RUBY_PLATFORM ? :KILL : :TERM){exit}
+      while true
+        t = Thread.new{sleep 0}
+        t.raise Interrupt
+      end
+    _end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/thread.c b/thread.c
index da607b2dbb..046364dfe5 100644
--- a/thread.c
+++ b/thread.c
@@ -2063,6 +2063,13 @@ rb_threadptr_raise(rb_thread_t *th, int argc, VALUE *argv)
     else {
 	exc = rb_make_exception(argc, argv);
     }
+
+    /* making an exception object can switch thread,
+       so we need to check thread deadness again */
+    if (rb_threadptr_dead(th)) {
+	return Qnil;
+    }
+
     rb_threadptr_setup_exception(GET_THREAD(), exc, Qundef);
     rb_threadptr_pending_interrupt_enque(th, exc);
     rb_threadptr_interrupt(th);
diff --git a/version.h b/version.h
index cbc9b2e9a4..d569ac2914 100644
--- a/version.h
+++ b/version.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #define RUBY_VERSION "2.2.7"
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_DATE "2017-03-26"
-#define RUBY_PATCHLEVEL 440
+#define RUBY_PATCHLEVEL 441
 
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_YEAR 2017
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_MONTH 3