diff --git a/extmod/modussl_mbedtls.c b/extmod/modussl_mbedtls.c
index bd4b0c7253..636f45f4e4 100644
--- a/extmod/modussl_mbedtls.c
+++ b/extmod/modussl_mbedtls.c
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ STATIC mp_obj_ssl_socket_t *socket_new(mp_obj_t sock, struct ssl_args *args) {
     mp_obj_ssl_socket_t *o = m_new_obj(mp_obj_ssl_socket_t);
 #endif
     o->base.type = &ussl_socket_type;
+    o->sock = sock;
 
     int ret;
     mbedtls_ssl_init(&o->ssl);
@@ -171,7 +172,6 @@ STATIC mp_obj_ssl_socket_t *socket_new(mp_obj_t sock, struct ssl_args *args) {
         }
     }
 
-    o->sock = sock;
     mbedtls_ssl_set_bio(&o->ssl, &o->sock, _mbedtls_ssl_send, _mbedtls_ssl_recv, NULL);
 
     if (args->key.u_obj != MP_OBJ_NULL) {