diff --git a/lib/connect.c b/lib/connect.c
index 4141789718..c7ba3e20e3 100644
--- a/lib/connect.c
+++ b/lib/connect.c
@@ -824,11 +824,10 @@ static CURLcode start_connect(struct Curl_cfilter *cf,
     CURL_TRC_CF(data, cf, "created %s (timeout %"
                 CURL_FORMAT_TIMEDIFF_T "ms)",
                 ctx->baller[1]->name, ctx->baller[1]->timeoutms);
+    Curl_expire(data, data->set.happy_eyeballs_timeout,
+                EXPIRE_HAPPY_EYEBALLS);
   }
 
-  Curl_expire(data, data->set.happy_eyeballs_timeout,
-              EXPIRE_HAPPY_EYEBALLS);
-
   return CURLE_OK;
 }