diff --git a/channels/chan_iax2.c b/channels/chan_iax2.c
index efe1bd3..61b77b0 100644
--- a/channels/chan_iax2.c
+++ b/channels/chan_iax2.c
@@ -4450,6 +4450,11 @@ static struct iax2_peer *realtime_peer(const char *peername, struct ast_sockaddr
 
 	ast_variables_destroy(var);
 
+	/* peer may be unrefed when checking the peer type */
+	if (!peer) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	if (ast_test_flag64((&globalflags), IAX_RTCACHEFRIENDS)) {
 		ast_copy_flags64(peer, &globalflags, IAX_RTAUTOCLEAR|IAX_RTCACHEFRIENDS);
 		if (ast_test_flag64(peer, IAX_RTAUTOCLEAR)) {