diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index 6adb94618e..2d2a81f9cc 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -210,16 +210,16 @@ func (c *connect) close() error {
 	c.closed = true
 	c.mutexClose.Unlock()
 
+	if err := c.conn.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	c.buffer = nil
 
 	c.mutex.Lock()
 	c.reader = nil
 	c.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if err := c.conn.Close(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	return nil
 }