diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/AbstractChannel.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/AbstractChannel.java
index da582af059..40429b722c 100644
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/AbstractChannel.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/AbstractChannel.java
@@ -568,7 +568,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractChannel extends DefaultAttributeMap implements Cha
                 return;
             }
             if (!isCompatible(eventLoop)) {
-                promise.setFailure(new IllegalStateException("incompatible event loop type: " + eventLoop.getClass().getName()));
+                promise.setFailure(
+                        new IllegalStateException("incompatible event loop type: " + eventLoop.getClass().getName()));
+                return;
             }
 
             AbstractChannel.this.eventLoop = eventLoop;