diff --git a/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_ajp.c b/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_ajp.c
index b17d7ae39a..12cb6fc605 100644
--- a/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_ajp.c
+++ b/modules/proxy/mod_proxy_ajp.c
@@ -509,16 +509,18 @@ static int ap_proxy_ajp_request(apr_pool_t *p, request_rec *r,
                             if (bb_len != -1)
                                 conn->worker->s->read += bb_len;
                         }
-                        if (ap_pass_brigade(r->output_filters,
-                                            output_brigade) != APR_SUCCESS) {
-                            ap_log_rerror(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_DEBUG, 0, r,
-                                          "proxy: error processing body.%s",
-                                          r->connection->aborted ?
-                                          " Client aborted connection." : "");
-                            output_failed = 1;
+                        if (headers_sent) {
+                            if (ap_pass_brigade(r->output_filters,
+                                                output_brigade) != APR_SUCCESS) {
+                                ap_log_rerror(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_DEBUG, 0, r,
+                                              "proxy: error processing body.%s",
+                                              r->connection->aborted ?
+                                              " Client aborted connection." : "");
+                                output_failed = 1;
+                            }
+                            data_sent = 1;
+                            apr_brigade_cleanup(output_brigade);
                         }
-                        data_sent = 1;
-                        apr_brigade_cleanup(output_brigade);
                     }
                 }
                 else {