diff --git a/src/resolve/resolved-dns-answer.c b/src/resolve/resolved-dns-answer.c
index 479af69d0f..bbc1bdeecd 100644
--- a/src/resolve/resolved-dns-answer.c
+++ b/src/resolve/resolved-dns-answer.c
@@ -169,8 +169,9 @@ int dns_answer_add(
 
                 /* Entry already exists, keep the entry with the higher TTL. */
                 if (rr->ttl > exist->rr->ttl) {
+                        dns_resource_record_ref(rr);
                         dns_resource_record_unref(exist->rr);
-                        exist->rr = dns_resource_record_ref(rr); /* lgtm [cpp/inconsistent-null-check] */
+                        exist->rr = rr;
 
                         /* Update RRSIG and RR at the same time */
                         if (rrsig) {