diff --git a/aeron-driver/src/main/java/io/aeron/driver/PublicationImage.java b/aeron-driver/src/main/java/io/aeron/driver/PublicationImage.java
index 67b7f89dc6..522c9c12c4 100644
--- a/aeron-driver/src/main/java/io/aeron/driver/PublicationImage.java
+++ b/aeron-driver/src/main/java/io/aeron/driver/PublicationImage.java
@@ -696,8 +696,9 @@ int sendPendingStatusMessage(final long nowNs)
         int workCount = 0;
         final long changeNumber = endSmChange;
         final boolean hasSmTimedOut = (timeOfLastSmNs + smTimeoutNs) - nowNs < 0;
+        final Integer responseSessionId;
 
-        if (null != responseSessionId && hasSmTimedOut)
+        if (hasSmTimedOut && null != (responseSessionId = this.responseSessionId))
         {
             channelEndpoint.sendResponseSetup(imageConnections, sessionId, streamId, responseSessionId);
         }