diff --git a/dlls/wininet/netconnection.c b/dlls/wininet/netconnection.c
index 962c2a9d9d8..ca668f22d19 100644
--- a/dlls/wininet/netconnection.c
+++ b/dlls/wininet/netconnection.c
@@ -406,7 +406,8 @@ void NETCON_unload(void)
     if(have_compat_cred_handle)
         FreeCredentialsHandle(&compat_cred_handle);
     DeleteCriticalSection(&init_sechandle_cs);
-    WSACleanup();
+    if(winsock_loaded)
+        WSACleanup();
 }
 
 /* translate a unix error code into a winsock one */