diff --git a/protocol/connections/engine.go b/protocol/connections/engine.go
index 7db469e..34ec0f8 100644
--- a/protocol/connections/engine.go
+++ b/protocol/connections/engine.go
@@ -374,7 +374,9 @@ func (e *engine) peerWithOnion(onion string) {
 					return
 				}
 				log.Debugf("PeerWithOnion something went very wrong...%v %v", onion, err)
-				conn.Close()
+				if conn != nil {
+					conn.Close()
+				}
 				e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerDisconnected)(onion)
 			} else {
 				log.Debugf("PeerWithOnion %v %v", onion, err)