diff --git a/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_hcheck.c b/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_hcheck.c
index bd1b940174..68b7f575f4 100644
--- a/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_hcheck.c
+++ b/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_hcheck.c
@@ -503,12 +503,12 @@ static apr_status_t backend_cleanup(const char *proxy_function, proxy_conn_rec *
     if (backend) {
         backend->close = 1;
         ap_proxy_release_connection(proxy_function, backend, s);
+        ap_log_error(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_DEBUG, 0, s, APLOGNO(03251)
+                         "Health check %s Status (%d) for %s.",
+                         ap_proxy_show_hcmethod(backend->worker->s->method),
+                         status,
+                         backend->worker->s->name);
     }
-    ap_log_error(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_DEBUG, 0, s, APLOGNO(03251)
-                     "Health check %s Status (%d) for %s.",
-                     ap_proxy_show_hcmethod(backend->worker->s->method),
-                     status,
-                     backend->worker->s->name);
     if (status != OK) {
         return APR_EGENERAL;
     }