diff --git a/dbus/dbus-connection.c b/dbus/dbus-connection.c
index 6f38d14..ccdd073 100644
--- a/dbus/dbus-connection.c
+++ b/dbus/dbus-connection.c
@@ -4618,7 +4618,8 @@ dbus_connection_dispatch (DBusConnection *connection)
                                                           DBUS_DISPATCH_NEED_MEMORY);
 
       if (pending)
-        dbus_pending_call_unref (pending);
+        _dbus_assert_not_reached ("pending must be unreffed and NULL here");
+
       dbus_connection_unref (connection);
       
       return DBUS_DISPATCH_NEED_MEMORY;