diff --git a/shapeshifter.go b/shapeshifter.go
index d17873c5b571a0f4a1780c571fbe0f022c29c246..4211df641c1e1ed672b56c6d2a03d21bf1a562a4 100644
--- a/shapeshifter.go
+++ b/shapeshifter.go
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ func (ss *ShapeShifter) Open() error {
 }
 
 func (ss *ShapeShifter) Close() error {
-	return ss.ln.Close()
+	if ss.ln != nil {
+		return ss.ln.Close()
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (ss ShapeShifter) clientAcceptLoop() error {