diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c
index c0feeee..e906014 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c
@@ -652,7 +652,8 @@ static void tcp_keepalive_timer (unsigned long data)
 		goto death;
 	}
 
-	if (!sock_flag(sk, SOCK_KEEPOPEN) || sk->sk_state == TCP_CLOSE)
+	if (!sock_flag(sk, SOCK_KEEPOPEN) ||
+	    ((1 << sk->sk_state) & (TCPF_CLOSE | TCPF_SYN_SENT)))
 		goto out;
 
 	elapsed = keepalive_time_when(tp);