diff --git a/lib/net_uv.js b/lib/net_uv.js
index e979b44189..3539b4865c 100644
--- a/lib/net_uv.js
+++ b/lib/net_uv.js
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ Socket.prototype.destroy = function(exception) {
   debug('close ' + this.fd);
   if (this._handle) {
     this._handle.close();
+    this._handle = null;
   }
 
   process.nextTick(function() {