diff --git a/src/lib-http/http-client-request.c b/src/lib-http/http-client-request.c
index a39f141533..f382966a93 100644
--- a/src/lib-http/http-client-request.c
+++ b/src/lib-http/http-client-request.c
@@ -1374,8 +1374,10 @@ http_client_request_send_error(struct http_client_request *req,
 				i_stream_unref(&req->payload_input);
 		}
 	}
-	if (req->payload_wait)
+	if (req->payload_wait) {
+		i_assert(req->client != NULL);
 		io_loop_stop(req->client->ioloop);
+	}
 	return TRUE;
 }