diff --git a/src/hlua.c b/src/hlua.c
index d2a211078..30e294fd0 100644
--- a/src/hlua.c
+++ b/src/hlua.c
@@ -2192,6 +2192,9 @@ __LJMP static int hlua_socket_connect(struct lua_State *L)
 	if (!conn)
 		WILL_LJMP(luaL_error(L, "connect: internal error"));
 
+	/* needed for the connection not to be closed */
+	conn->target = socket->s->target;
+
 	/* Parse ip address. */
 	conn->addr.to.ss_family = AF_UNSPEC;
 	if (!str2ip2(ip, &conn->addr.to, 0))