diff --git a/Lib/ssl.py b/Lib/ssl.py
index 025aadeff4d..4b682848e70 100644
--- a/Lib/ssl.py
+++ b/Lib/ssl.py
@@ -483,6 +483,7 @@ class SSLSocket(socket):
                  server_hostname=None,
                  _context=None):
 
+        self._makefile_refs = 0
         if _context:
             self._context = _context
         else:
@@ -565,7 +566,6 @@ class SSLSocket(socket):
             except (OSError, ValueError):
                 self.close()
                 raise
-        self._makefile_refs = 0
 
     @property
     def context(self):