diff --git a/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/rpc/handler.rs b/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/rpc/handler.rs
index e76d6d27866..0a0a6ca754f 100644
--- a/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/rpc/handler.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/rpc/handler.rs
@@ -964,6 +964,9 @@ where
         request_info: (Id, RequestType<E>),
         error: StreamUpgradeError<RPCError>,
     ) {
+        // This dialing is now considered failed
+        self.dial_negotiated -= 1;
+
         let (id, req) = request_info;
 
         // map the error
@@ -989,9 +992,6 @@ where
             StreamUpgradeError::Apply(other) => other,
         };
 
-        // This dialing is now considered failed
-        self.dial_negotiated -= 1;
-
         self.outbound_io_error_retries = 0;
         self.events_out
             .push(HandlerEvent::Err(HandlerErr::Outbound {