diff --git a/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams-client.c b/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams-client.c
index c03fb0c04..f2e24735e 100644
--- a/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams-client.c
+++ b/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams-client.c
@@ -140,9 +140,11 @@ callback_sspc_client(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reason,
 		lwsl_info("%s: CONNECTED (%s)\n", __func__, h->ssi.streamtype);
 
 		h->state = LPCSCLI_SENDING_INITIAL_TX;
-		h->dsh = lws_dsh_create(NULL, (LWS_PRE + LWS_SS_MTU) * 160, 1);
-		if (!h->dsh)
-			return -1;
+		if (!h->dsh) {
+			h->dsh = lws_dsh_create(NULL, (LWS_PRE + LWS_SS_MTU) * 160, 1);
+			if (!h->dsh)
+				return -1;
+		}
 
 		lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_CLIENT_HS_SEND, 3);
 		lws_callback_on_writable(wsi);