diff --git a/src/or/main.c b/src/or/main.c
index 1c2cade0bf..d3bccca0a2 100644
--- a/src/or/main.c
+++ b/src/or/main.c
@@ -591,8 +591,9 @@ run_connection_housekeeping(int i, time_t now)
         buf_datalen(conn->inbuf)>=1024) {
       info(LD_DIR,"Trying to extract information from wedged server desc download.");
       connection_dir_reached_eof(conn);
+    } else {
+      connection_mark_for_close(conn);
     }
-    connection_mark_for_close(conn);
     return;
   }