diff --git a/p2p/transport.go b/p2p/transport.go
index 5fc7686feb..bdbe270f51 100644
--- a/p2p/transport.go
+++ b/p2p/transport.go
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ func (t *rlpxTransport) close(err error) {
 				t.conn.Write(discMsg, t.wbuf.Bytes())
 			}
 		}
+		t.conn.Close()
 	}
-	t.conn.Close()
 }
 
 func (t *rlpxTransport) doEncHandshake(prv *ecdsa.PrivateKey) (*ecdsa.PublicKey, error) {