diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Network/Connection.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Network/Connection.cs
index b2bce7a393..808d4ef3e8 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Network/Connection.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Network/Connection.cs
@@ -149,7 +149,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 			GC.SuppressFinalize( this );
 
 			t.Abort();
-			socket.Client.Close();
+			if (socket != null)
+				socket.Client.Close();
 			using( new PerfSample( "Thread.Join" ))
 				t.Join();
 		}