diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
index 8a255981b7..f846164834 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
@@ -1611,6 +1611,8 @@ void zebra_nhg_free(struct nhg_hash_entry *nhe)
 				   nhe->nhg.nexthop);
 	}
 
+	THREAD_OFF(nhe->timer);
+
 	if (nhe->refcnt)
 		zlog_debug("nhe_id=%pNG hash refcnt=%d", nhe, nhe->refcnt);