diff --git a/metrology/reporter/graphite.py b/metrology/reporter/graphite.py
index a384a57..293e51e 100644
--- a/metrology/reporter/graphite.py
+++ b/metrology/reporter/graphite.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def __init__(self, host, port, **options):
 
     @property
     def socket(self):
-        if not self._socket:
+        if not hasattr(self, '_socket'):
             self._socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
             self._socket.connect((self.host, self.port))
         return self._socket
diff --git a/metrology/reporter/statsd.py b/metrology/reporter/statsd.py
index 43d9fe4..318ed27 100644
--- a/metrology/reporter/statsd.py
+++ b/metrology/reporter/statsd.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def __init__(self, host, port, **options):
 
     @property
     def socket(self):
-        if not self._socket:
+        if not hasattr(self, '_socket'):
             self._socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
         return self._socket