diff --git a/net/tcp/tcp_close.c b/net/tcp/tcp_close.c
index 2f5f8599fe..b3a81a80ce 100644
--- a/net/tcp/tcp_close.c
+++ b/net/tcp/tcp_close.c
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ static void tcp_close_work(FAR void *param)
   /* Stop the network monitor for all sockets */
 
   tcp_stop_monitor(conn, TCP_CLOSE);
-
-  /* Discard our reference to the connection */
-
-  conn->crefs = 0;
   tcp_free(conn);
 
   net_unlock();
@@ -360,6 +356,7 @@ int tcp_close(FAR struct socket *psock)
   /* Perform the disconnection now */
 
   tcp_unlisten(conn); /* No longer accepting connections */
+  conn->crefs = 0;    /* Discard our reference to the connection */
 
   /* Break any current connections and close the socket */
 
diff --git a/net/tcp/tcp_conn.c b/net/tcp/tcp_conn.c
index 34ac2f9387..aad46069a5 100644
--- a/net/tcp/tcp_conn.c
+++ b/net/tcp/tcp_conn.c
@@ -696,7 +696,6 @@ FAR struct tcp_conn_s *tcp_alloc(uint8_t domain)
            * waiting for it.
            */
 
-          conn->crefs = 0;
           tcp_free(conn);
 
           /* Now there is guaranteed to be one free connection.  Get it! */