diff --git a/drivers/sshj/src/main/java/org/jclouds/sshj/SSHClientConnection.java b/drivers/sshj/src/main/java/org/jclouds/sshj/SSHClientConnection.java
index aa626773a0..198e686924 100644
--- a/drivers/sshj/src/main/java/org/jclouds/sshj/SSHClientConnection.java
+++ b/drivers/sshj/src/main/java/org/jclouds/sshj/SSHClientConnection.java
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ public class SSHClientConnection implements Connection<SSHClient> {
       if (ssh != null && ssh.isConnected()) {
          try {
             ssh.disconnect();
+         } catch (AssertionError e) {
+            // already connected
          } catch (IOException e) {
             logger.debug("<< exception disconnecting from %s: %s", e, e.getMessage());
          }