diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
index 732a391082..6179de907f 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
@@ -508,6 +508,10 @@ public abstract class Recycler<T> {
                     return null;
                 }
                 size = this.size;
+                if (size <= 0) {
+                    // double check, avoid races
+                    return null;
+                }
             }
             size --;
             DefaultHandle ret = elements[size];