diff --git a/src/devices/adsl/nm-device-adsl.c b/src/devices/adsl/nm-device-adsl.c
index 59c87851d1..536d7cccb7 100644
--- a/src/devices/adsl/nm-device-adsl.c
+++ b/src/devices/adsl/nm-device-adsl.c
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ br2684_assign_vcc (NMDeviceAdsl *self, NMSettingAdsl *s_adsl)
 	if (priv->brfd < 0) {
 		errsv = errno;
 		_LOGE (LOGD_ADSL, "failed to open ATM control socket (%d)", errsv);
+		priv->brfd = -1;
 		return FALSE;
 	}