In this paper, a delayed differential equation model that describes infection of thymus with HIV-1 is considered. We first investigate the existence and stability of the equilibria and then we study the effect of the time delay on the stability of the infected equilibrium. Criteria are given to ensure that the infected equilibrium is asymptotically stable for all delay. Finally, by using a delay as a bifurcation parameter, the existence of Hopf bifurcation is investigated. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the analytical results. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.