diff --git a/src/goofi/connection.py b/src/goofi/connection.py
index 678bda3..2b94d2d 100644
--- a/src/goofi/connection.py
+++ b/src/goofi/connection.py
@@ -162,8 +162,11 @@ def close(self) -> None:
 
     def __del__(self) -> None:
         """Destructor to close the connection and free any resources associated with it."""
-        self.close()
-        self.conn._handle = None
+        try:
+            self.close()
+            self.conn._handle = None
+        except Exception:
+            pass
 
 
 class ZeroMQConnection(Connection, ABC):