diff --git a/res/res_pjsip.c b/res/res_pjsip.c
index babbe7aaaa943bbb9f7018571baaa310fce218d6..8e99c55d45e38f87125aee6b5e31d518f55ee85b 100644
--- a/res/res_pjsip.c
+++ b/res/res_pjsip.c
@@ -3155,9 +3155,11 @@ static pj_status_t endpt_send_request(struct ast_sip_endpoint *endpoint,
 		char errmsg[PJ_ERR_MSG_SIZE];
 
 		if (timeout > 0) {
-			pj_timer_heap_cancel_if_active(pjsip_endpt_get_timer_heap(endpt),
+			int timers_cancelled = pj_timer_heap_cancel_if_active(pjsip_endpt_get_timer_heap(endpt),
 				req_wrapper->timeout_timer, TIMER_INACTIVE);
-			ao2_ref(req_wrapper, -1);
+			if (timers_cancelled > 0) {
+				ao2_ref(req_wrapper, -1);
+			}
 		}
 
 		/* Complain of failure to send the request. */