diff --git a/programs/pluto/hostpair.c b/programs/pluto/hostpair.c

index 9b14341..e3afecd 100644

--- a/programs/pluto/hostpair.c

+++ b/programs/pluto/hostpair.c

@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ void release_dead_interfaces(void)

 					 */

 					passert(p == *pp);

-					p->interface = NULL;

+					terminate_connection(p->name);

+					p->interface = NULL; /* withdraw orientation */

 					*pp = p->hp_next; /* advance *pp */

 					p->host_pair = NULL;

diff --git a/programs/pluto/initiate.c b/programs/pluto/initiate.c

index 056af59..eed8bf3 100644

--- a/programs/pluto/initiate.c

+++ b/programs/pluto/initiate.c

@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ bool orient(struct connection *c)

 									c->name, c->interface->ip_dev->id_rname,

 									p->ip_dev->id_rname);

 							}

+							terminate_connection(c->name);

 							c->interface = NULL; /* withdraw orientation */

 							return FALSE;

 						}