diff --git a/src/openvpn/forward.c b/src/openvpn/forward.c
index 9ddea439..e4215b70 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/forward.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/forward.c
@@ -1111,6 +1111,12 @@ process_incoming_dco(struct context *c)
 
     dco_do_read(dco);
 
+    if (dco->dco_message_type == OVPN_CMD_DEL_PEER)
+    {
+        trigger_ping_timeout_signal(c);
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (dco->dco_message_type != OVPN_CMD_PACKET)
     {
         msg(D_DCO_DEBUG, "%s: received message of type %u - ignoring", __func__,