diff --git a/lib/java/src/org/apache/thrift/transport/TServerSocket.java b/lib/java/src/org/apache/thrift/transport/TServerSocket.java
index 8345d44..7bd87f4 100644
--- a/lib/java/src/org/apache/thrift/transport/TServerSocket.java
+++ b/lib/java/src/org/apache/thrift/transport/TServerSocket.java
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@
       // Bind to listening port
       serverSocket_.bind(args.bindAddr, args.backlog);
     } catch (IOException ioe) {
-      serverSocket_ = null;
-      throw new TTransportException("Could not create ServerSocket on address " + args.bindAddr.toString() + ".");
+      close();
+      throw new TTransportException("Could not create ServerSocket on address " + args.bindAddr.toString() + ".", ioe);
     }
   }