diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/timer.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/timer.h
index 45bc317bbb..0c0cf1a8d6 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/timer.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/timer.h
@@ -140,10 +140,12 @@ isc_timer_start(isc_timer_t *timer, isc_timertype_t type,
  *	interval.
  */
 
+void
+isc_timer_async_destroy(isc_timer_t **timerp);
 void
 isc_timer_destroy(isc_timer_t **timerp);
 /*%<
- * Destroy the timer *timerp.
+ * Destroy (asynchronously) the timer *timerp.
  *
  * Requires:
  *
diff --git a/lib/isc/timer.c b/lib/isc/timer.c
index 46c2d4b99c..600380997e 100644
--- a/lib/isc/timer.c
+++ b/lib/isc/timer.c
@@ -225,3 +225,16 @@ void
 isc_timer_destroy(isc_timer_t **timerp) {
 	isc__timer_detach(timerp);
 }
+
+void
+isc_timer_async_destroy(isc_timer_t **timerp) {
+	isc_timer_t *timer = NULL;
+
+	REQUIRE(timerp != NULL && VALID_TIMER(*timerp));
+
+	timer = *timerp;
+	*timerp = NULL;
+
+	isc_timer_stop(timer);
+	isc_async_run(timer->loop, isc__timer_destroy, timer);
+}