diff --git a/designate/service.py b/designate/service.py
index 8619ee0f2..1078b8a51 100644
--- a/designate/service.py
+++ b/designate/service.py
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ class DNSService(object):
     def _dns_handle_tcp(self, sock_tcp):
         LOG.info("_handle_tcp thread started")
 
+        client = None
         while True:
             try:
                 # handle a new TCP connection
@@ -332,18 +333,21 @@ class DNSService(object):
             # ending unexpectedly. Ensure proper ordering of blocks, and
             # ensure no exceptions are generated from within.
             except socket.timeout:
-                client.close()
+                if client:
+                    client.close()
                 LOG.warning("TCP Timeout from: %(host)s:%(port)d",
                             {'host': addr[0], 'port': addr[1]})
 
             except socket.error as e:
-                client.close()
+                if client:
+                    client.close()
                 errname = errno.errorcode[e.args[0]]
                 LOG.warning("Socket error %(err)s from: %(host)s:%(port)d",
                             {'host': addr[0], 'port': addr[1], 'err': errname})
 
             except Exception:
-                client.close()
+                if client:
+                    client.close()
                 LOG.exception("Unknown exception handling TCP request from: "
                               "%(host)s:%(port)d",
                               {'host': addr[0], 'port': addr[1]})
@@ -418,7 +422,8 @@ class DNSService(object):
             LOG.exception("Unknown exception handling TCP request from: "
                           "%(host)s:%(port)d", {'host': host, 'port': port})
         finally:
-            client.close()
+            if client:
+                client.close()
 
     def _dns_handle_udp(self, sock_udp):
         """Handle a DNS Query over UDP in a dedicated thread
diff --git a/designate/tests/fixtures.py b/designate/tests/fixtures.py
index eb70045c2..073a53165 100644
--- a/designate/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/designate/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -28,13 +28,16 @@ import tempfile
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
 import fixtures
+import mock
+import tooz.coordination
+from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 from oslo_utils import importutils
-from oslo_config import cfg
-import tooz.coordination
 
-from designate import policy
+import designate.service
+import designate.utils
 from designate import network_api
+from designate import policy
 from designate import rpc
 from designate.network_api import fake as fake_network_api
 from designate.sqlalchemy import utils as sqlalchemy_utils
@@ -81,7 +84,8 @@ class ServiceFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
         self.svc = cls()
         self.svc_name = svc_name
 
-    def setUp(self):
+    @mock.patch.object(designate.service.DNSService, '_start')
+    def setUp(self, mock_start):
         super(ServiceFixture, self).setUp()
         LOG.info('Starting service %s (%s)', self.svc_name, id(self.svc))
         self.svc.start()
diff --git a/designate/tests/test_utils.py b/designate/tests/test_utils.py
index 6127442b0..7ffacee57 100644
--- a/designate/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/designate/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -13,11 +13,9 @@
 # WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
-
 import os
 import functools
 import tempfile
-import unittest
 
 import six
 import testtools
@@ -135,22 +133,6 @@ class TestUtils(TestCase):
                                     ['asc', 'desc'])
 
 
-class SocketListenTest(unittest.TestCase):
-
-    def test_listen_tcp(self):
-        # Test listening on TCP on IPv4 and IPv6 addrs
-        # bug 1566036
-        for addr in ('', '0.0.0.0', '127.0.0.1', '::', '::1'):
-            s = utils.bind_tcp(addr, 0, 1)
-            s.close()
-
-    def test_listen_udp(self):
-        # Test listening on UDP on IPv4 and IPv6 addrs
-        for addr in ('', '0.0.0.0', '127.0.0.1', '::', '::1'):
-            s = utils.bind_udp(addr, 0)
-            s.close()
-
-
 def def_method(f, *args, **kwargs):
     @functools.wraps(f)
     def new_method(self):