diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/network/netty/NettyBlockTransferService.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/network/netty/NettyBlockTransferService.scala
index b12cd4254f19..1d27fe7db193 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/network/netty/NettyBlockTransferService.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/network/netty/NettyBlockTransferService.scala
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ private[spark] class NettyBlockTransferService(
     try {
       val blockFetchStarter = new RetryingBlockFetcher.BlockFetchStarter {
         override def createAndStart(blockIds: Array[String], listener: BlockFetchingListener) {
-          val client = clientFactory.createClient(host, port)
           try {
+            val client = clientFactory.createClient(host, port)
             new OneForOneBlockFetcher(client, appId, execId, blockIds, listener,
               transportConf, tempFileManager).start()
           } catch {