diff --git a/gqrxHandler.py b/gqrxHandler.py
index 2c85636..07b25e6 100644
--- a/gqrxHandler.py
+++ b/gqrxHandler.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ class GQRXHandler(threading.Thread):
             return True
         except ConnectionRefusedError as err:
             self.logger.warning(err)
+            self.tel_conn = None
             return False
 
     def change_freq(self, freq):