diff --git a/lib/PoolConnection.js b/lib/PoolConnection.js
index d4464943e..f3924aac6 100644
--- a/lib/PoolConnection.js
+++ b/lib/PoolConnection.js
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ var Events     = require('events');
 module.exports = PoolConnection;
 inherits(PoolConnection, Connection);
 
+function _noop() {}
+
 function PoolConnection(pool, options) {
   Connection.call(this, options);
   this._pool  = pool;
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ PoolConnection.prototype.release = function release() {
 
   if (this._pool.config.idleConnectionTimeout) {
     this._idleTimeout = setTimeout(
-      this.destroy.bind(this),
+      this._realEnd.bind(this, _noop),
       this._pool.config.idleConnectionTimeout
     );
   }