diff --git a/lib/ruby/1.9/net/http.rb b/lib/ruby/1.9/net/http.rb
index 2cf8c61d1..4cdcfed3a 100644
--- a/lib/ruby/1.9/net/http.rb
+++ b/lib/ruby/1.9/net/http.rb
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ def request(req, body = nil, &block)  # :yield: +response+
       res
     rescue => exception
       D "Conn close because of error #{exception}"
-      @socket.close unless @socket.closed?
+      @socket.close unless @socket.nil? || @socket.closed?
       raise exception
     end