diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
index 4c6fdde1b2..ea5a54d0cd 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ isc_nm_closedown(isc_nm_t *mgr) {
 void
 isc_nm_destroy(isc_nm_t **mgr0) {
 	isc_nm_t *mgr = NULL;
+	int counter = 0;
 
 	REQUIRE(mgr0 != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(VALID_NM(*mgr0));
@@ -407,7 +408,7 @@ isc_nm_destroy(isc_nm_t **mgr0) {
 	/*
 	 * Wait for the manager to be dereferenced elsewhere.
 	 */
-	while (isc_refcount_current(&mgr->references) > 1) {
+	while (isc_refcount_current(&mgr->references) > 1 && counter++ < 1000) {
 		/*
 		 * Sometimes libuv gets stuck, pausing and unpausing
 		 * netmgr goes over all events in async queue for all
@@ -423,6 +424,8 @@ isc_nm_destroy(isc_nm_t **mgr0) {
 #endif /* ifdef WIN32 */
 	}
 
+	INSIST(counter <= 1000);
+
 	/*
 	 * Detach final reference.
 	 */