diff --git a/nselib/rpc.lua b/nselib/rpc.lua
index 03955ceaa..0f434b4ca 100644
--- a/nselib/rpc.lua
+++ b/nselib/rpc.lua
@@ -164,26 +164,28 @@ Comm = {
         return status, err
       end
       if ( port.protocol == "tcp" ) then
-        socket = nmap.new_socket()
         if nmap.is_privileged() then
           -- Try to bind to a reserved port
           for resvport = 600, 1024, 1 do
+            socket = nmap.new_socket()
             status, err = socket:bind(nil, resvport)
             if status then 
               status, err = socket:connect(host, port)
               if status then break end
+              socket:close()
             end
           end
         else
           status, err = socket:connect(host, port)
         end
       else
-        socket = nmap.new_socket("udp")
         if nmap.is_privileged() then
           -- Try to bind to a reserved port
           for resvport = 600, 1024, 1 do
+            socket = nmap.new_socket("udp")
             status, err = socket:bind(nil, resvport)
             if status then break end
+            socket:close()
           end
         end
       end