diff --git a/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/async/HttpAsyncMainClientExec.java b/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/async/HttpAsyncMainClientExec.java
index 3e904342b..86eff6164 100644
--- a/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/async/HttpAsyncMainClientExec.java
+++ b/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/async/HttpAsyncMainClientExec.java
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ class HttpAsyncMainClientExec implements AsyncExecChainHandler {
 
             @Override
             public void cancel() {
-                failed(new InterruptedIOException());
+                if (messageCountDown.get() > 0) {
+                    failed(new InterruptedIOException());
+                }
             }
 
             @Override