Information handling system peripherals that use a heating element are protected from catastrophic failure due to overheating by a thermal failsafe associated with the heating element that fails the heating element if excessive temperatures are reached. For instance, the failsafe releases the vacuum from a heating element bulb so that the application of power to the filament of the heating element bulb oxidizes the filament resulting in failure of the filament and ceasing of generation of heat. The failsafe includes a melting agent, such as wax or solder, which seals an opening in the bulb unless a thermal runaway temperature is reached in excess of a desired operating temperature. Alternatively, the failsafe includes an expanding agent, such as a ceramic or a liquid-filled bubble, which releases the vacuum by fracturing an opening in the bulb at the thermal runaway temperature. The thermal runaway temperature is selected to induce failure before catastrophic overheating of the peripheral.