diff --git a/Lib/test/test_poplib.py b/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
index 31f8a3c85c5..eac77aa6ffe 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ def tearDown(self):
                 # happens in the test_too_long_lines case; the overlong
                 # response will be treated as response to QUIT and raise
                 # this exception
-                pass
+                self.client.close()
         self.server.stop()
 
     def test_stls(self):