diff --git a/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/SslHandler.java b/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/SslHandler.java
index 761ce1bd85..557764296d 100644
--- a/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/SslHandler.java
+++ b/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/SslHandler.java
@@ -1244,7 +1244,7 @@ public class SslHandler extends FrameDecoder
         }
 
         if (cause != null) {
-            fireExceptionCaught(ctx, cause);
+            fireExceptionCaughtLater(ctx, cause);
         }
     }