diff --git a/src/switch_ivr.c b/src/switch_ivr.c
index bc9f699f41..1f6b5695ea 100644
--- a/src/switch_ivr.c
+++ b/src/switch_ivr.c
@@ -1928,11 +1928,14 @@ static void *audio_bridge_thread(switch_thread_t *thread, void *obj)
 				switch_channel_answer(chan_a);
 				ans_a++;
 			} else if (!pre_b && switch_channel_test_flag(chan_b, CF_EARLY_MEDIA)) {
-				switch_channel_pre_answer(chan_a);
-				pre_b++;
+				if (switch_channel_pre_answer(chan_a) == SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+					pre_b++;
+				}
+			}
+			if (!pre_b) {
+				switch_yield(10000);
+				continue;
 			}
-			switch_yield(10000);
-			continue;
 		}