diff --git a/bufferevent_pair.c b/bufferevent_pair.c
index 8154e17b..d80e5f81 100644
--- a/bufferevent_pair.c
+++ b/bufferevent_pair.c
@@ -307,15 +307,17 @@ be_pair_flush(struct bufferevent *bev, short iotype,
 {
 	struct bufferevent_pair *bev_p = upcast(bev);
 	struct bufferevent *partner;
-	incref_and_lock(bev);
+
 	if (!bev_p->partner)
 		return -1;
 
-	partner = downcast(bev_p->partner);
-
 	if (mode == BEV_NORMAL)
 		return 0;
 
+	incref_and_lock(bev);
+
+	partner = downcast(bev_p->partner);
+
 	if ((iotype & EV_READ) != 0)
 		be_pair_transfer(partner, bev, 1);