diff --git a/src/client/client.cpp b/src/client/client.cpp
index e078dc530..93a403e81 100644
--- a/src/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client/client.cpp
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ void Client::deletingPeer(con::Peer *peer, bool timeout)
 	m_access_denied = true;
 	if (timeout)
 		m_access_denied_reason = gettext("Connection timed out.");
-	else
+	else if (m_access_denied_reason.empty())
 		m_access_denied_reason = gettext("Connection aborted (protocol error?).");
 }