Index: channels/chan_local.c
===================================================================
--- channels/chan_local.c	(revision 311604)
+++ channels/chan_local.c	(working copy)
@@ -821,11 +821,14 @@
 	}
 	ast_set_cc_interfaces_chanvar(p->chan, reduced_dest);
 
+	ast_channel_ref(p->chan);
+	ao2_unlock(p);
+	ast_channel_unlock(p->chan);
+
 	if (!ast_exists_extension(p->chan, p->chan->context, p->chan->exten, 1,
 		S_COR(p->owner->caller.id.number.valid, p->owner->caller.id.number.str, NULL))) {
 		ast_log(LOG_NOTICE, "No such extension/context %s@%s while calling Local channel\n", p->chan->exten, p->chan->context);
-		ao2_unlock(p);
-		ast_channel_unlock(p->chan);
+		ast_channel_unref(p->chan);
 		ao2_ref(p, -1);
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -834,8 +837,7 @@
 	if (!(res = ast_pbx_start(p->chan)))
 		ast_set_flag(p, LOCAL_LAUNCHED_PBX);
 
-	ao2_unlock(p);
-	ast_channel_unlock(p->chan);
+	ast_channel_unref(p->chan);
 	ao2_ref(p, -1);
 	return res;
 }