diff --git a/lib/connection.js b/lib/connection.js
index f38647d855a..b0ceb77029b 100644
--- a/lib/connection.js
+++ b/lib/connection.js
@@ -842,11 +842,6 @@ Connection.prototype._waitForConnect = async function _waitForConnect() {
           },
           bufferTimeoutMS
         );
-
-        // dont cause this timeout to keep the js process alive
-        if ('unref' in timeout) {
-          timeout.unref();
-        }
       })
     ]);