diff --git a/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.cc b/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.cc
index 41ca2d42114..76df9766983 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.cc
+++ b/src/core/ext/filters/client_channel/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.cc
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ void PickFirst::UpdateLocked(const grpc_channel_args& args) {
           latest_pending_subchannel_list_.reset();
           return;
         }
+        GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(error);
       }
     }
     // Not keeping the previous selected subchannel, so set the latest