diff --git a/res/res_features.c b/res/res_features.c
index 0cf317843d..e738d14770 100644
--- a/res/res_features.c
+++ b/res/res_features.c
@@ -816,8 +816,11 @@ static int builtin_atxfer(struct ast_channel *chan, struct ast_channel *peer, st
 		return FEATURE_RETURN_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
-	if (check_compat(transferer, newchan))
+	if (check_compat(transferer, newchan)) {
+		/* we do mean transferee here, NOT transferer */
+		finishup(transferee);
 		return -1;
+	};
 	memset(&bconfig,0,sizeof(struct ast_bridge_config));
 	ast_set_flag(&(bconfig.features_caller), AST_FEATURE_DISCONNECT);
 	ast_set_flag(&(bconfig.features_callee), AST_FEATURE_DISCONNECT);
@@ -831,8 +834,10 @@ static int builtin_atxfer(struct ast_channel *chan, struct ast_channel *peer, st
 		return FEATURE_RETURN_SUCCESS;
 	}
 	
-	if (check_compat(transferee, newchan))
+	if (check_compat(transferee, newchan)) {
+		finishup(transferee);
 		return -1;
+	};
 
 	ast_indicate(transferee, AST_CONTROL_UNHOLD);