diff --git a/p2p/transport.go b/p2p/transport.go
index 15d78a7d87..91e66cfe11 100644
--- a/p2p/transport.go
+++ b/p2p/transport.go
@@ -113,19 +113,17 @@ func (t *rlpxTransport) close(err error) {
 	// Tell the remote end why we're disconnecting if possible.
 	// We only bother doing this if the underlying connection supports
 	// setting a timeout tough.
-	if t.conn != nil {
-		if reason, ok := err.(DiscReason); ok && reason != DiscNetworkError {
-			// We do not use the WriteMsg func since we want a custom deadline
-			deadline := time.Now().Add(discWriteTimeout)
-			if err := t.conn.SetWriteDeadline(deadline); err == nil {
-				// Connection supports write deadline.
-				t.wbuf.Reset()
-				rlp.Encode(&t.wbuf, []any{reason})
-				t.conn.Write(discMsg, t.wbuf.Bytes())
-			}
+	if reason, ok := err.(DiscReason); ok && reason != DiscNetworkError {
+		// We do not use the WriteMsg func since we want a custom deadline
+		deadline := time.Now().Add(discWriteTimeout)
+		if err := t.conn.SetWriteDeadline(deadline); err == nil {
+			// Connection supports write deadline.
+			t.wbuf.Reset()
+			rlp.Encode(&t.wbuf, []any{reason})
+			t.conn.Write(discMsg, t.wbuf.Bytes())
 		}
-		t.conn.Close()
 	}
+	t.conn.Close()
 }
 
 func (t *rlpxTransport) doEncHandshake(prv *ecdsa.PrivateKey) (*ecdsa.PublicKey, error) {