diff --git a/tests/test_etcp_stcp.c b/tests/test_etcp_stcp.c
index 070a1748..a8ff8686 100644
--- a/tests/test_etcp_stcp.c
+++ b/tests/test_etcp_stcp.c
@@ -407,6 +407,50 @@ static void connection_callback_close_case(int reality, int side, unsigned actio
     printf("PASS connection callback close reality=%d side=%d action=%u event=%u: no late UP\n", reality, side, action, event);
 }
 
+struct creation_case { unsigned action, fired; };
+static void cancel_tcp_creation(struct ETCP_CONN *conn, struct ETCP_LINK *link, int old_state, int old_status, void *arg) {
+    (void)old_status;
+    struct creation_case *test = arg;
+    if (test->fired || old_state != -1 || !link->is_tcp) return;
+    test->fired++;
+    if (test->action == 3) etcp_remove_link_status_cbk(conn->instance, cancel_tcp_creation, test);
+    else etcp_link_close(link);
+}
+static void cancel_tcp_connection(struct ETCP_CONN *conn, void *arg) {
+    struct creation_case *test = arg;
+    if (test->fired) return;
+    test->fired++; etcp_connection_close(conn);
+}
+static void cancel_tcp_new_status(struct ETCP_CONN *conn, int status, void *arg) {
+    if (status == ETCP_CONN_STATUS_NEW) cancel_tcp_connection(conn, arg);
+}
+static void tcp_creation_case(int reality, int side, unsigned action) {
+    size_t allocated = u_get_allocated_count();
+    memset(endpoints, 0, sizeof(endpoints)); phase = 0; failed = 0;
+    struct creation_case test = {.action = action};
+    ua = uasync_create(); CHECK(ua);
+    start_endpoint(0, reality); start_endpoint(1, reality);
+    struct TOPO_NODE *peer = import_peer(0);
+    struct UTUN_INSTANCE *inst = endpoints[side].inst;
+    if (action == 2) etcp_add_new_conn_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_connection, &test);
+    else if (action == 4) etcp_add_conn_status_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_new_status, &test);
+    else etcp_add_link_status_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_creation, &test);
+    int result = node_conn_direct_open_node(endpoints[0].inst, peer->node_id, NULL, NULL,
+        &endpoints[0].owner, peer, NULL);
+    CHECK(result >= 0 || (side == 0 && (action == 2 || action == 4)));
+    uint64_t deadline = get_time_tb() + 30000;
+    while (!test.fired && get_time_tb() < deadline) test_clock_poll(ua, 100);
+    CHECK(test.fired == 1);
+    test_clock_run_for(ua, 100);
+    if (action == 2) etcp_remove_new_conn_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_connection, &test);
+    else if (action == 4) etcp_remove_conn_status_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_new_status, &test);
+    else etcp_remove_link_status_cbk(inst, cancel_tcp_creation, &test);
+    stop_endpoint(0); stop_endpoint(1); uasync_drain_immediate(ua); uasync_poll(ua, 0);
+    CHECK(ua->timer_alloc_count == ua->timer_free_count && ua->socket_alloc_count == ua->socket_free_count);
+    uasync_destroy(ua, 0); CHECK(u_get_allocated_count() == allocated);
+    printf("PASS TCP creation reality=%d side=%d action=%u: no stale handle, balanced resources\n", reality, side, action);
+}
+
 static void reconnect_case(void) {
     size_t allocated = u_get_allocated_count();
     memset(endpoints, 0, sizeof(endpoints)); phase = 0; failed = 0;
@@ -465,6 +509,7 @@ int main(void) {
             for (int restarted = 0; restarted < 2; restarted++) run_case(reality, simultaneous, restarted);
         run_case(reality, 1, 2);
         for (int side = 0; side < 2; side++) {
+            for (unsigned action = 1; action <= 4; action++) tcp_creation_case(reality, side, action);
             for (unsigned action = 1; action <= 2; action++) {
                 connection_callback_close_case(reality, side, action, ETCP_CBK_EVENT_INIT);
                 connection_callback_close_case(reality, side, action, ETCP_CBK_EVENT_UP);