diff --git a/channels/chan_pjsip.c b/channels/chan_pjsip.c
index af0496a90013f605d0b39054827845406a2bb105..e324b3347c30bcc8d132af3c32c7c22d1ab82c69 100644
--- a/channels/chan_pjsip.c
+++ b/channels/chan_pjsip.c
@@ -438,12 +438,15 @@ static struct ast_channel *chan_pjsip_new(struct ast_sip_session *session, int s
 static int answer(void *data)
 {
 	pj_status_t status = PJ_SUCCESS;
-	pjsip_tx_data *packet;
+	pjsip_tx_data *packet = NULL;
 	struct ast_sip_session *session = data;
 
 	pjsip_dlg_inc_lock(session->inv_session->dlg);
 	if (session->inv_session->invite_tsx) {
 		status = pjsip_inv_answer(session->inv_session, 200, NULL, NULL, &packet);
+	} else {
+		ast_log(LOG_ERROR,"Cannot answer '%s' because there is no associated SIP transaction\n",
+			ast_channel_name(session->channel));
 	}
 	pjsip_dlg_dec_lock(session->inv_session->dlg);