diff --git a/lib/core/util.js b/lib/core/util.js
index dfefac6d15c..8ec4ac0cfc4 100644
--- a/lib/core/util.js
+++ b/lib/core/util.js
@@ -824,6 +824,10 @@ function removeAllListeners (obj) {
  * @param {Error} err
  */
 function errorRequest (client, request, err) {
+  if (!request) {
+    client.emit('error', err)
+    return
+  }
   try {
     request.onError(err)
     assert(request.aborted)