diff --git a/jetty-core/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/transport/HttpSender.java b/jetty-core/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/transport/HttpSender.java
index 55476b7f48ce..69bade58dd68 100644
--- a/jetty-core/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/transport/HttpSender.java
+++ b/jetty-core/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/transport/HttpSender.java
@@ -386,8 +386,11 @@ private void externalAbort(Throwable failure, Promise<Boolean> promise)
         }
     }
 
-    private void internalAbort(HttpExchange exchange, Throwable failure)
+    private void internalAbort(Throwable failure)
     {
+        HttpExchange exchange = getHttpExchange();
+        if (exchange == null)
+            return;
         anyToFailure(failure);
         abortRequest(exchange);
     }
@@ -626,7 +629,7 @@ protected void onCompleteFailure(Throwable x)
             }
 
             failRequest(x);
-            internalAbort(exchange, x);
+            internalAbort(x);
 
             Promise<Boolean> promise = abort;
             if (promise != null)