diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_periodic_sync.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_periodic_sync.c
index bfa52d689..1d3a9cc72 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_periodic_sync.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_periodic_sync.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ ble_hs_periodic_sync_alloc(void)
         memset(psync, 0, sizeof(*psync));
     }
 
-    ble_npl_event_init(&psync->lost_ev, ble_gap_npl_sync_lost, psync);
     return psync;
 }
 
@@ -56,7 +55,9 @@ ble_hs_periodic_sync_free(struct ble_hs_periodic_sync *psync)
         return;
     }
 
-    ble_npl_event_deinit(&psync->lost_ev);
+    if((psync->lost_ev).event != NULL)
+        ble_npl_event_deinit(&psync->lost_ev);
+
 #if MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_HS_DEBUG)
     memset(psync, 0xff, sizeof *psync);
 #endif