diff --git a/main/bridge_channel.c b/main/bridge_channel.c
index 4aebb01b5e..e2175959bf 100644
--- a/main/bridge_channel.c
+++ b/main/bridge_channel.c
@@ -278,13 +278,23 @@ static void bridge_channel_poke(struct ast_bridge_channel *bridge_channel)
  */
 static int channel_set_cause(struct ast_channel *chan, int cause)
 {
+	int current_cause;
 	ast_channel_lock(chan);
+	current_cause = ast_channel_hangupcause(chan);
+
+	/* if the hangupcause is already set, leave it */
+	if (current_cause > 0) {
+		ast_channel_unlock(chan);
+		return current_cause;
+	}
+
 	if (cause <= 0) {
 		cause = ast_channel_hangupcause(chan);
 		if (cause <= 0) {
 			cause = AST_CAUSE_NORMAL_CLEARING;
 		}
 	}
+
 	ast_channel_hangupcause_set(chan, cause);
 	ast_channel_unlock(chan);
 	return cause;