diff --git a/lib/core-net/client/connect.c b/lib/core-net/client/connect.c
index b57bdfc17..9c72835d5 100644
--- a/lib/core-net/client/connect.c
+++ b/lib/core-net/client/connect.c
@@ -453,8 +453,12 @@ lws_client_connect_via_info(const struct lws_client_connect_info *i)
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_TLS)
 bail3:
+	lwsl_info("%s: tls start fail\n", __func__);
 	lws_close_free_wsi(wsi, LWS_CLOSE_STATUS_NOSTATUS, "tls start fail");
 
+	if (i->pwsi)
+		*i->pwsi = NULL;
+
 	return NULL;
 #endif