diff --git a/src/facade/dragonfly_connection.cc b/src/facade/dragonfly_connection.cc
index eb4ca8c5e84c..7502bf2c25cb 100644
--- a/src/facade/dragonfly_connection.cc
+++ b/src/facade/dragonfly_connection.cc
@@ -819,9 +819,10 @@ std::pair<std::string, std::string> Connection::GetClientInfoBeforeAfterTid() co
   string_view phase_name = PHASE_NAMES[phase_];
 
   if (cc_) {
-    DCHECK(reply_builder_);
     string cc_info = service_->GetContextInfo(cc_.get()).Format();
-    if (reply_builder_->IsSendActive())
+
+    // reply_builder_ may be null if the connection is in the setup phase, for example.
+    if (reply_builder_ && reply_builder_->IsSendActive())
       phase_name = "send";
     absl::StrAppend(&after, " ", cc_info);
   }