diff --git a/SocketIO.m b/SocketIO.m
index 4612d54..e48cfb8 100755
--- a/SocketIO.m
+++ b/SocketIO.m
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ - (void) connection:(NSURLConnection *)connection
 
 - (void) dealloc
 {
-    _handshake.delegate = nil;
+    [_handshake cancel];
     _handshake = nil;
 
     _host = nil;