diff --git a/src/modules/db_redis/redis_connection.c b/src/modules/db_redis/redis_connection.c
index 1166117961c..5cf36ffb369 100644
--- a/src/modules/db_redis/redis_connection.c
+++ b/src/modules/db_redis/redis_connection.c
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ int db_redis_connect(km_redis_con_t *con) {
 #endif
     reply = NULL;
 
+    if(con->con) {
+        LM_DBG("free old connection first\n");
+        redisFree(con->con);
+    }
+
     // TODO: introduce require_master mod-param and check if we're indeed master
     // TODO: on carrier, if we have db fail-over, the currently connected
     // redis server will become slave without dropping connections?