diff --git a/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py b/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
index d7b365e451..c3f8f967ee 100644
--- a/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
+++ b/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ def _cleanup(self):
         if not self._thread:
             return
 
+        # Stop the prepare watcher first to prevent race conditions
+        if self._preparer:
+            self._preparer.stop()
+
         for conn in self._live_conns | self._new_conns | self._closed_conns:
             conn.close()
             for watcher in (conn._write_watcher, conn._read_watcher):
@@ -125,8 +129,9 @@ def _cleanup(self):
         self.notify()  # wake the timer watcher
 
         # PYTHON-752 Thread might have just been created and not started
+        # Use longer timeout to allow proper cleanup
         with self._lock_thread:
-            self._thread.join(timeout=1.0)
+            self._thread.join(timeout=5.0)
 
         if self._thread.is_alive():
             log.warning(
diff --git a/cassandra/io/libevwrapper.c b/cassandra/io/libevwrapper.c
index f32504fa34..fc25f9ceba 100644
--- a/cassandra/io/libevwrapper.c
+++ b/cassandra/io/libevwrapper.c
@@ -118,7 +118,13 @@ IO_dealloc(libevwrapper_IO *self) {
 static void io_callback(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *watcher, int revents) {
     libevwrapper_IO *self = watcher->data;
     PyObject *result;
-    PyGILState_STATE gstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
+    PyGILState_STATE gstate;
+
+    if (!self || !self->callback) {
+        return;  // Skip callback if object is being destroyed
+    }
+
+    gstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
     if (revents & EV_ERROR && errno) {
         result = PyObject_CallFunction(self->callback, "Obi", self, revents, errno);
     } else {
@@ -354,6 +360,10 @@ static void prepare_callback(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *watcher, int reve
     PyObject *result = NULL;
     PyGILState_STATE gstate;
 
+    if (!self || !self->callback) {
+        return;  // Skip callback if object is being destroyed
+    }
+
     gstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
     result = PyObject_CallFunction(self->callback, "O", self);
     if (!result) {
@@ -473,6 +483,10 @@ static void timer_callback(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_timer *watcher, int revents)
     PyObject *result = NULL;
     PyGILState_STATE gstate;
 
+    if (!self || !self->callback) {
+        return;  // Skip callback if object is being destroyed
+    }
+
     gstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
     result = PyObject_CallFunction(self->callback, NULL);
     if (!result) {