diff --git a/src/routing_layer/conn_mgr_monitor.c b/src/routing_layer/conn_mgr_monitor.c
index 05796170..ba43f25b 100644
--- a/src/routing_layer/conn_mgr_monitor.c
+++ b/src/routing_layer/conn_mgr_monitor.c
@@ -185,7 +185,9 @@ void cm_candidate_ping_timer_cb(void* arg) {
         uint64_t nid = mgr->best_candidates[i].node_id;
         struct TOPO_GROUP_NODE* nq = topo_node_find_by_id(mgr->group, nid);
         if (!nq) { memmove(&mgr->best_candidates[i], &mgr->best_candidates[i+1], (--mgr->best_candidate_count - i) * sizeof(mgr->best_candidates[0])); i--; continue; }
-        if (cm_get_node_max_probe_time(nq) > 0 && (now - cm_get_node_max_probe_time(nq)) >= CONN_MGR_CANDIDATE_STALE_TB)
+        if (!cm_has_active_conn(mgr->group, nid)
+            && cm_get_node_max_probe_time(nq) > 0
+            && (now - cm_get_node_max_probe_time(nq)) >= CONN_MGR_CANDIDATE_STALE_TB)
         { DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_GENERAL, "conn_mgr: candidate 0x%016llx stale, removing", (unsigned long long)nid);
           memmove(&mgr->best_candidates[i], &mgr->best_candidates[i+1], (--mgr->best_candidate_count - i) * sizeof(mgr->best_candidates[0])); i--; continue; }
         if (cm_has_active_conn(mgr->group, nid)) {