diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.txt b/RELEASE_NOTES.txt
index d9994f113..40f8121a1 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.txt
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 Changes since 4.0 Alpha 2
 -------------------
 
+* [HTTPCLIENT-740] don't start connection GC thread in pool constructor
+  Contributed by Roland Weber <rolandw at apache.org>
+
 * [HTTPCLIENT-736] route planners use SchemeRegistry instead of ConnManager
   Contributed by Roland Weber <rolandw at apache.org>
 
diff --git a/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/conn/AbstractClientConnAdapter.java b/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/conn/AbstractClientConnAdapter.java
index 3ca7181b7..1988819b7 100644
--- a/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/conn/AbstractClientConnAdapter.java
+++ b/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/conn/AbstractClientConnAdapter.java
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ protected ClientConnectionManager getManager() {
      */
     protected final void assertNotAborted() throws InterruptedIOException {
         if (aborted) {
-            throw new InterruptedIOException("Connection has been shut down");
+            throw new InterruptedIOException("Connection has been shut down.");
         }
     }