diff --git a/src/rest_client.c b/src/rest_client.c
index a85ebf8..478ee9b 100644
--- a/src/rest_client.c
+++ b/src/rest_client.c
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ static bool do_signed_request(rest_conn_t *rc,
         if (n <= 0) {
             int err = SSL_get_error(rc->ssl, n);
             if (err == SSL_ERROR_WANT_READ || err == SSL_ERROR_WANT_WRITE) continue;
+            /* Connection dead — tear down so next call reconnects */
+            SSL_free(rc->ssl); rc->ssl = NULL;
+            close(rc->fd); rc->fd = -1;
             break;
         }
         total += n;