diff --git a/elasticsearch/connection/thrift.py b/elasticsearch/connection/thrift.py
index 7f97199d..10c616e4 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/connection/thrift.py
+++ b/elasticsearch/connection/thrift.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class ThriftConnection(PoolingConnection):
                     parameters=params, body=body)
 
         start = time.time()
+        tclient = None
         try:
             tclient = self._get_connection()
             response = tclient.execute(request)
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@ class ThriftConnection(PoolingConnection):
             self.log_request_fail(method, url, body, time.time() - start, exception=e)
             raise ConnectionError('N/A', str(e), e)
         finally:
-            self._release_connection(tclient)
+            if tclient:
+                self._release_connection(tclient)
 
         if not (200 <= response.status < 300) and response.status not in ignore:
             self.log_request_fail(method, url, body, duration, response.status)