diff --git a/ngcp/dlgcnt.lua b/ngcp/dlgcnt.lua
index 1be1988..cf93da5 100644
--- a/ngcp/dlgcnt.lua
+++ b/ngcp/dlgcnt.lua
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ end
             self.pair = self._connect(self.config.pair);
         end
         local num = self.pair:lrem(callid, 1, key);
+        if num == 0 then
+            sr.log("dbg", string.format("pair:lrem[%s]=>[%s] no such key found in list, skipping decrement", callid, key));
+            return false;
+        end
         sr.log("dbg", string.format("pair:lrem[%s]=>[%s] %d\n", callid, key, num));
         if not self._test_connection(self.central) then
             self.central = self._connect(self.config.central);
diff --git a/ngcp/dlglist.lua b/ngcp/dlglist.lua
index 6d36a1e..678cf37 100644
--- a/ngcp/dlglist.lua
+++ b/ngcp/dlglist.lua
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ end
             self.pair = _connect(self.config.pair);
         end
         local num = self.pair:lrem("list:"..callid, 0, key);
+        if num == 0 then
+            sr.log("dbg", string.format("pair:lrem[list:%s] no such key %s found in list", callid, key));
+            return false;
+        end
         sr.log("dbg", string.format("pair:lrem[%s]=>[%s] %d\n", callid, key, num));
         if not _test_connection(self.central) then
             self.central = _connect(self.config.central);