diff --git a/lib/tls.js b/lib/tls.js
index e396b592e8..9f3a42b511 100644
--- a/lib/tls.js
+++ b/lib/tls.js
@@ -574,11 +574,10 @@ function onhandshakestart() {
   var self = this, ssl = this.ssl;
 
   if (ssl.timer === null) {
-    function timeout() {
+    ssl.timer = setTimeout(function timeout() {
       ssl.handshakes = 0;
       ssl.timer = null;
-    }
-    ssl.timer = setTimeout(timeout, exports.CLIENT_RENEG_WINDOW * 1000);
+    }, exports.CLIENT_RENEG_WINDOW * 1000);
   }
   else if (++ssl.handshakes > exports.CLIENT_RENEG_LIMIT) {
     // Defer the error event to the next tick. We're being called from OpenSSL's