diff --git a/cmd/bootnode/main.go b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
index 5c1635de39a1..9b5a77c6c66d 100644
--- a/cmd/bootnode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
@@ -197,7 +197,6 @@ func doPortMapping(natm nat.Interface, ln *enode.LocalNode, addr *net.UDPAddr) *
 	// Refresh the mapping periodically.
 	go func() {
 		refresh := time.NewTimer(mapTimeout)
-		defer refresh.Stop()
 		for range refresh.C {
 			addMapping()
 			refresh.Reset(mapTimeout)