diff --git a/alts/src/main/java/io/grpc/alts/internal/AltsProtocolNegotiator.java b/alts/src/main/java/io/grpc/alts/internal/AltsProtocolNegotiator.java
index 53749f3e1dd..1e754f7e4f2 100644
--- a/alts/src/main/java/io/grpc/alts/internal/AltsProtocolNegotiator.java
+++ b/alts/src/main/java/io/grpc/alts/internal/AltsProtocolNegotiator.java
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ synchronized Channel get() {
     /** Returns the cached channel to the channel pool. */
     synchronized void close() {
       if (channel != null) {
-        channelPool.returnObject(channel);
+        channel = channelPool.returnObject(channel);
       }
     }
   }