diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 06dd76969..30257749b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ based on _prefix_ in addition to globs. This means that a filter like
 
 ### Bugfixes
 - [#921](https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/pull/921): mqtt_consumer stops gathering metrics. Thanks @chaton78!
+- [#1013](https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/pull/1013): Close dead riemann output connections. Thanks @echupriyanov!
 
 ## v0.12.1 [2016-04-14]
 
diff --git a/plugins/outputs/riemann/riemann.go b/plugins/outputs/riemann/riemann.go
index 88c4b20de..bc49a7191 100644
--- a/plugins/outputs/riemann/riemann.go
+++ b/plugins/outputs/riemann/riemann.go
@@ -80,15 +80,8 @@ func (r *Riemann) Write(metrics []telegraf.Metric) error {
 	var senderr = r.client.SendMulti(events)
 	if senderr != nil {
 		r.Close() // always retuns nil
-		connerr := r.Connect()
-		if connerr != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("FAILED to (re)connect to Riemann. Error: %s\n", connerr)
-		}
-		senderr = r.client.SendMulti(events)
-		if senderr != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("FAILED to send riemann message (will try to reconnect). Error: %s\n",
-				senderr)
-		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("FAILED to send riemann message (will try to reconnect). Error: %s\n",
+			senderr)
 	}
 
 	return nil