diff --git a/lib/_http_server.js b/lib/_http_server.js
index 02cd7a81a9cc0b..36a0e2b006aab5 100644
--- a/lib/_http_server.js
+++ b/lib/_http_server.js
@@ -521,9 +521,12 @@ function socketOnError(e) {
     if (this.writable) {
       const response = e.code === 'HPE_HEADER_OVERFLOW' ?
         requestHeaderFieldsTooLargeResponse : badRequestResponse;
-      this.write(response);
+      this.write(response, () => {
+        this.destroy(e);
+      });
+    } else {
+      this.destroy(e);
     }
-    this.destroy(e);
   }
 }