diff --git a/flow/client/client.go b/flow/client/client.go
index 36f362f09..be142a2e9 100644
--- a/flow/client/client.go
+++ b/flow/client/client.go
@@ -154,21 +154,20 @@ func (c *GRPCClient) recreateConnection() error {
 		return backoff.Permanent(ErrClientClosed)
 	}
 
-	defer func(conn *grpc.ClientConn) {
-		_ = conn.Close()
-	}(c.clientConn)
-
 	conn, err := grpc.NewClient(c.clientConn.Target(), c.opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.mu.Unlock()
 		return fmt.Errorf("create new connection: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	old := c.clientConn
 	c.clientConn = conn
 	c.realClient = proto.NewFlowServiceClient(conn)
 	c.stream = nil
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 
+	_ = old.Close()
+
 	return nil
 }