diff --git a/daemon/media_socket.c b/daemon/media_socket.c
index 15492cc50..1c8f8e0fe 100644
--- a/daemon/media_socket.c
+++ b/daemon/media_socket.c
@@ -1697,8 +1697,12 @@ out:
 // appropriate locks must be held
 int media_socket_dequeue(struct media_packet *mp, struct packet_stream *sink) {
 	struct codec_packet *p;
-	while ((p = g_queue_pop_head(&mp->packets_out)))
-		send_timer_push(sink->send_timer, p);
+	while ((p = g_queue_pop_head(&mp->packets_out))) {
+		if (sink->send_timer)
+			send_timer_push(sink->send_timer, p);
+		else
+			codec_packet_free(p);
+	}
 	return 0;
 }