diff --git a/Lib/test/test_socket.py b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
index 99c4c5cbc4902d..09605f7e774dda 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_socket.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
@@ -5356,6 +5356,7 @@ def test_create_connection_timeout(self):
 
 
 class NetworkConnectionAttributesTest(SocketTCPTest, ThreadableTest):
+    cli = None
 
     def __init__(self, methodName='runTest'):
         SocketTCPTest.__init__(self, methodName=methodName)
@@ -5365,7 +5366,8 @@ def clientSetUp(self):
         self.source_port = socket_helper.find_unused_port()
 
     def clientTearDown(self):
-        self.cli.close()
+        if self.cli is not None:
+            self.cli.close()
         self.cli = None
         ThreadableTest.clientTearDown(self)