diff --git a/lib/ns/client.c b/lib/ns/client.c
index 6e381d03b4..ba589e0464 100644
--- a/lib/ns/client.c
+++ b/lib/ns/client.c
@@ -382,6 +382,7 @@ client_senddone(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, isc_result_t result, void *cbarg) {
 				      NS_LOGMODULE_CLIENT, ISC_LOG_DEBUG(3),
 				      "send failed: %s",
 				      isc_result_totext(result));
+			isc_nm_bad_request(handle);
 		}
 	}