diff --git a/net/rds/threads.c b/net/rds/threads.c
index 65eaefcab241..dc2402e871fd 100644
--- a/net/rds/threads.c
+++ b/net/rds/threads.c
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ void rds_connect_complete(struct rds_connection *conn)
 				"current state is %d\n",
 				__func__,
 				atomic_read(&conn->c_state));
-		atomic_set(&conn->c_state, RDS_CONN_ERROR);
-		queue_work(rds_wq, &conn->c_down_w);
+		rds_conn_drop(conn);
 		return;
 	}