diff --git a/src/libraries/System.Net.Http/src/System/Net/Http/SocketsHttpHandler/ConnectHelper.cs b/src/libraries/System.Net.Http/src/System/Net/Http/SocketsHttpHandler/ConnectHelper.cs
index ab6047ec43ce4a..1b44657530a1a8 100644
--- a/src/libraries/System.Net.Http/src/System/Net/Http/SocketsHttpHandler/ConnectHelper.cs
+++ b/src/libraries/System.Net.Http/src/System/Net/Http/SocketsHttpHandler/ConnectHelper.cs
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ private static Stream Connect(string host, int port, CancellationToken cancellat
                 {
                     socket.Connect(new DnsEndPoint(host, port));
                 }
+
+                return new NetworkStream(socket, ownsSocket: true);
             }
             catch (Exception e)
             {
                 socket.Dispose();
                 throw CreateWrappedException(e, host, port, cancellationToken);
             }
-
-            return new NetworkStream(socket, ownsSocket: true);
         }
 
         /// <summary>SocketAsyncEventArgs that carries with it additional state for a Task builder and a CancellationToken.</summary>