diff --git a/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/grpclb/grpclb.c b/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/grpclb/grpclb.c
index a776a07..4fcfa74 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/grpclb/grpclb.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/grpclb/grpclb.c
@@ -1560,6 +1560,9 @@
           exec_ctx, glb_policy->lb_call, ops, (size_t)(op - ops),
           &glb_policy->lb_on_response_received); /* loop */
       GPR_ASSERT(GRPC_CALL_OK == call_error);
+    } else {
+      GRPC_LB_POLICY_WEAK_UNREF(exec_ctx, &glb_policy->base,
+                                "lb_on_response_received_locked_shutdown");
     }
   } else { /* empty payload: call cancelled. */
            /* dispose of the "lb_on_response_received_locked" weak ref taken in