diff --git a/src/helpers/RefCountedDigitalPin.h b/src/helpers/RefCountedDigitalPin.h
index 753f6c30e..4cf53cda4 100644
--- a/src/helpers/RefCountedDigitalPin.h
+++ b/src/helpers/RefCountedDigitalPin.h
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ class RefCountedDigitalPin {
       digitalWrite(_pin, _active);
     }
   }
+
   void release() {
-    _claims--;
     if (_claims == 0) {
       digitalWrite(_pin, !_active);
+    } else {
+      _claims--;
     }
   }
 };