diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 7ec74775c0..44322e692b 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -178,12 +178,12 @@ RedisClient.prototype.flush_and_error = function (message) {
 };
 
 RedisClient.prototype.on_error = function (msg) {
-    var message = "Redis connection to " + this.address + " failed - " + msg;
-
     if (this.closing) {
         return;
     }
 
+    var message = "Redis connection to " + this.address + " failed - " + msg;
+
     if (exports.debug_mode) {
         console.warn(message);
     }