A joke can really help ease the tension. Sometimes when you stutter but don't mention it, it just makes the other person a lot more awkward because they are pretending not to notice it. It helps to put it out there. I don't always find it necessary to make a joke, though. Sometimes I Just straight up say, "Hey, I have a stutter, I can't really help it, anyway..." and I just keep talking. If you say it confidently, not apologetically, most people just accept it and don't bother you about it.