diff -ruN res/res_stasis_snoop.c res/res_stasis_snoop.c
--- res/res_stasis_snoop.c
+++ res/res_stasis_snoop.c
@@ -345,6 +345,9 @@ struct ast_channel *stasis_app_control_snoop(struct ast_channel *chan,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	/* Keep a reference to the channel we are spying on */
+	snoop->spyee_chan = ast_channel_ref(chan);
+
 	/* To keep the channel valid on the Snoop structure until it is destroyed we bump the ref up here */
 	ast_channel_ref(snoop->chan);
 
@@ -414,9 +417,6 @@ struct ast_channel *stasis_app_control_snoop(struct ast_channel *chan,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	/* Keep a reference to the channel we are spying on */
-	snoop->spyee_chan = ast_channel_ref(chan);
-
 	publish_chanspy_message(snoop, 1);
 
 	/* The caller of this has a reference as well */