diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 861d2896633..a97da67f3b2 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -888,8 +888,9 @@ Server.prototype._listen2 = function(address, port, addressType, backlog, fd) {
   if (!self._handle) {
     self._handle = createServerHandle(address, port, addressType, fd);
     if (!self._handle) {
+      var error = errnoException(errno, 'listen');
       process.nextTick(function() {
-        self.emit('error', errnoException(errno, 'listen'));
+        self.emit('error', error);
       });
       return;
     }