diff --git a/relay_request.js b/relay_request.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/relay_request.js
+++ b/relay_request.js
@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@ RelayRequest.prototype.createOutResponse = function createOutResponse(options) {
         self.channel.logger.debug('relay: in request already timed out', {
             codeString: self.inreq.res.codeString,
             responseMessage: self.inreq.res.message,
-            serviceName: self.outreq.serviceName,
-            arg1: String(self.outreq.arg1),
-            outRemoteAddr: self.outreq.remoteAddr,
+            serviceName: self.outreq && self.outreq.serviceName,
+            arg1: self.outreq && String(self.outreq.arg1),
+            outRemoteAddr: self.outreq && self.outreq.remoteAddr,
             inRemoteAddr: self.inreq.remoteAddr,
             inSocketRemoteAddr: self.inreq.connection.socketRemoteAddr
         });
[BUG] do not assume out req exists