diff --git a/src/java/com/wolfssl/provider/jsse/WolfSSLSocket.java b/src/java/com/wolfssl/provider/jsse/WolfSSLSocket.java
index 74d6b225..ec8aa2ed 100644
--- a/src/java/com/wolfssl/provider/jsse/WolfSSLSocket.java
+++ b/src/java/com/wolfssl/provider/jsse/WolfSSLSocket.java
@@ -2478,7 +2478,6 @@ protected void close(boolean closeSocket) throws IOException {
                 }
 
                 this.socket = null;
-                this.ssl = null;
                 this.isClosed = true;
 
                 /* Reset "is closing" state to false, now closed */
@@ -2698,7 +2697,6 @@ protected void close(boolean closeSocket) throws IOException {
                 }
 
                 this.socket = null;
-                this.ssl = null;
                 this.isClosed = true;
 
                 /* Reset "is closing" state to false, now closed */