diff --git a/include/libtorrent/kademlia/observer.hpp b/include/libtorrent/kademlia/observer.hpp
index 141460dc0..073f453bc 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/kademlia/observer.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/kademlia/observer.hpp
@@ -56,9 +56,16 @@ struct observer : boost::noncopyable
 		: sent(time_now())
 		, pool_allocator(p)
 		, m_refs(0)
-	{}
+	{
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+		m_in_constructor = true;
+#endif
+	}
 
-	virtual ~observer() {}
+	virtual ~observer()
+	{
+		TORRENT_ASSERT(!m_in_constructor);
+	}
 
 	// these two callbacks lets the observer add
 	// information to the message before it's sent
@@ -79,6 +86,9 @@ struct observer : boost::noncopyable
 
 	udp::endpoint target_addr;
 	ptime sent;
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	bool m_in_constructor;
+#endif
 private:
 	boost::pool<>& pool_allocator;
 	// reference counter for intrusive_ptr
diff --git a/src/kademlia/closest_nodes.cpp b/src/kademlia/closest_nodes.cpp
index 1bb58050f..77e20c82e 100644
--- a/src/kademlia/closest_nodes.cpp
+++ b/src/kademlia/closest_nodes.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ void closest_nodes::invoke(node_id const& id, udp::endpoint addr)
 {
 	TORRENT_ASSERT(m_rpc.allocation_size() >= sizeof(closest_nodes_observer));
 	observer_ptr o(new (m_rpc.allocator().malloc()) closest_nodes_observer(this, id, m_target));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 	m_rpc.invoke(messages::find_node, addr, o);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kademlia/find_data.cpp b/src/kademlia/find_data.cpp
index 1be446d6a..9d11b5aeb 100644
--- a/src/kademlia/find_data.cpp
+++ b/src/kademlia/find_data.cpp
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ void find_data::invoke(node_id const& id, asio::ip::udp::endpoint addr)
 
 	TORRENT_ASSERT(m_rpc.allocation_size() >= sizeof(find_data_observer));
 	observer_ptr o(new (m_rpc.allocator().malloc()) find_data_observer(this, id, m_target));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 	m_rpc.invoke(messages::get_peers, addr, o);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kademlia/node.cpp b/src/kademlia/node.cpp
index 75e9e4bc0..be23e3cb9 100644
--- a/src/kademlia/node.cpp
+++ b/src/kademlia/node.cpp
@@ -273,8 +273,11 @@ namespace
 		for (std::vector<node_entry>::const_iterator i = v.begin()
 			, end(v.end()); i != end; ++i)
 		{
-			rpc.invoke(messages::get_peers, i->addr, observer_ptr(
-				new (rpc.allocator().malloc()) get_peers_observer(ih, listen_port, rpc, f)));
+			observer_ptr o(new (rpc.allocator().malloc()) get_peers_observer(ih, listen_port, rpc, f));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+			o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
+			rpc.invoke(messages::get_peers, i->addr, o);
 			nodes = true;
 		}
 	}
@@ -290,6 +293,9 @@ void node_impl::add_node(udp::endpoint node)
 	// ping the node, and if we get a reply, it
 	// will be added to the routing table
 	observer_ptr o(new (m_rpc.allocator().malloc()) null_observer(m_rpc.allocator()));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 	m_rpc.invoke(messages::ping, node, o);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kademlia/refresh.cpp b/src/kademlia/refresh.cpp
index 0887e0ac2..8edabb2c1 100644
--- a/src/kademlia/refresh.cpp
+++ b/src/kademlia/refresh.cpp
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ void refresh::invoke(node_id const& nid, udp::endpoint addr)
 	TORRENT_ASSERT(m_rpc.allocation_size() >= sizeof(refresh_observer));
 	observer_ptr o(new (m_rpc.allocator().malloc()) refresh_observer(
 		this, nid, m_target));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 
 	m_rpc.invoke(messages::find_node, addr, o);
 }
@@ -158,6 +161,9 @@ void refresh::invoke_pings_or_finish(bool prevent_request)
 				TORRENT_ASSERT(m_rpc.allocation_size() >= sizeof(ping_observer));
 				observer_ptr o(new (m_rpc.allocator().malloc()) ping_observer(
 					this, node.id));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+				o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 				m_rpc.invoke(messages::ping, node.addr, o);
 				++m_active_pings;
 				++m_leftover_nodes_iterator;
diff --git a/src/kademlia/rpc_manager.cpp b/src/kademlia/rpc_manager.cpp
index c0c1c787e..4319fc4b8 100644
--- a/src/kademlia/rpc_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/kademlia/rpc_manager.cpp
@@ -438,6 +438,9 @@ void rpc_manager::reply_with_ping(msg& m)
 
 	TORRENT_ASSERT(allocation_size() >= sizeof(null_observer));
 	observer_ptr o(new (allocator().malloc()) null_observer(allocator()));
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	o->m_in_constructor = false;
+#endif
 	TORRENT_ASSERT(!m_transactions[m_next_transaction_id]);
 	o->sent = time_now();
 	o->target_addr = m.addr;