         # shut down and we should abort the request
 
         conn_pre_abort = =>
+            console.debug "conn_pre_abort called. Destroyed? ", conn.destroyed
+
             if conn.destroyed
                 console.debug "aborting preroll ", count
                 req.abort()
 
+            clearTimeout req_t
+
         conn.once "close", conn_pre_abort
         conn.once "end", conn_pre_abort
+


                buffers = []
                buf_len = 0

                rres.on "data", (chunk) =>
                    buffers.push chunk


        conn = req.connection

        # refuse to wait longer than 250ms
        req_t = setTimeout =>
            console.debug "Preroll timeout reached for #{count}."
            conn_pre_abort()
        , 250

        console.debug "firing preroll request", count
        req = http.get opts, (rres) =>
            console.debug "got preroll response ", count, rres.statusCode
