diff --git a/connection_pool.go b/connection_pool.go
index 54cc3fcc..6bbe3324 100644
--- a/connection_pool.go
+++ b/connection_pool.go
@@ -364,10 +364,10 @@ func checkAddresses(confTimeout time.Duration, addresses []HostAddress, sslConfi
 
 func pingAddress(address HostAddress, timeout time.Duration, sslConfig *tls.Config) error {
 	newConn := newConnection(address)
-	defer newConn.close()
 	// Open connection to host
 	if err := newConn.open(newConn.severAddress, timeout, sslConfig); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	defer newConn.close()
 	return nil
 }