diff --git a/cmd/bootnode/main.go b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
index 9b5a77c6c6..bddfcbe2a5 100644
--- a/cmd/bootnode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("-ListenUDP: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer conn.Close()
 
 	db, _ := enode.OpenDB("")
 	ln := enode.NewLocalNode(db, nodeKey)