diff --git a/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack.go b/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack.go
index 50efefa9c..53619ab8c 100644
--- a/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack.go
+++ b/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack.go
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ func (c *ConnTrack) Start(enableCounters bool) error {
 
 	conn, err := c.dial()
 	if err != nil {
+		c.RestoreAccounting()
 		return fmt.Errorf("dial conntrack: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.conn = conn
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ func (c *ConnTrack) Start(enableCounters bool) error {
 			log.Errorf("Error closing conntrack connection: %v", err)
 		}
 		c.conn = nil
+		c.RestoreAccounting()
 		return fmt.Errorf("start conntrack listener: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -252,15 +254,16 @@ func (c *ConnTrack) Close() error {
 
 	c.started = false
 
+	var closeErr error
 	if c.conn != nil {
-		err := c.conn.Close()
+		closeErr = c.conn.Close()
 		c.conn = nil
+	}
 
-		c.RestoreAccounting()
+	c.RestoreAccounting()
 
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("close conntrack: %w", err)
-		}
+	if closeErr != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("close conntrack: %w", closeErr)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack_test.go b/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack_test.go
index 696ad6039..1d8ec268a 100644
--- a/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/netflow/conntrack/conntrack_test.go
@@ -106,8 +106,12 @@ func TestStopDuringReconnectBackoff(t *testing.T) {
 	// Trigger an error so the receiver enters reconnect.
 	mock.errChan <- assert.AnError
 
-	// Give the goroutine time to enter the reconnect backoff wait.
-	time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	// Wait for the error handler to close the old listener before calling Stop.
+	select {
+	case <-mock.closedCh:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for reconnect to start")
+	}
 
 	// Stop while reconnecting.
 	ct.Stop()