diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index bf2dd571..03af61b5 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -1703,6 +1703,7 @@ func (s *server) outboundPeerConnected(c *connmgr.ConnReq, conn net.Conn) {
 	if err != nil {
 		srvrLog.Debugf("Cannot create outbound peer %s: %v", c.Addr, err)
 		s.connManager.Disconnect(c.ID())
+		return
 	}
 	sp.Peer = p
 	sp.connReq = c