diff --git a/salt/transport/zeromq.py b/salt/transport/zeromq.py
index 809f683b74..66f754f091 100644
--- a/salt/transport/zeromq.py
+++ b/salt/transport/zeromq.py
@@ -790,6 +790,7 @@ class AsyncReqMessageClient(object):
             self.stream.io_loop.remove_handler(self.stream.socket)
             # set this to None, more hacks for messed up pyzmq
             self.stream.socket = None
+            self.stream = None
             self.socket.close()
         if self.context.closed is False:
             self.context.term()