diff --git a/src/core/model/watchdog.cc b/src/core/model/watchdog.cc
index e28d6889d..109a8ef81 100644
--- a/src/core/model/watchdog.cc
+++ b/src/core/model/watchdog.cc
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ Watchdog::Watchdog ()
 Watchdog::~Watchdog ()
 {
   NS_LOG_FUNCTION (this);
+  m_event.Cancel ();
   delete m_impl;
 }