diff --git a/ssh.c b/ssh.c
index 270d76b0..4fb0822a 100644
--- a/ssh.c
+++ b/ssh.c
@@ -1873,8 +1873,10 @@ static char *connect_to_host(char *host, int port, char **realhost, int nodelay)
 	logevent(buf);
     }
     s = sk_new(addr, port, 0, 1, nodelay, &fn_table_ptr);
-    if ((err = sk_socket_error(s)))
+    if ((err = sk_socket_error(s))) {
+	s = NULL;
 	return err;
+    }
 
 #ifdef FWHACK
     sk_write(s, "connect ", 8);