diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index d9d4b57c31..40555547e9 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -2103,8 +2103,9 @@ void AvatarData::setJointMappingsFromNetworkReply() {
 
     // before we process this update, make sure that the skeleton model URL hasn't changed
     // since we made the FST request
-    if (networkReply->url() != _skeletonModelURL) {
+    if (networkReply->error() != QNetworkReply::NoError || networkReply->url() != _skeletonModelURL) {
         qCDebug(avatars) << "Refusing to set joint mappings for FST URL that does not match the current URL";
+        networkReply->deleteLater();
         return;
     }