diff --git a/Lib/plat-win/socket.py b/Lib/plat-win/socket.py
index 7e1b3727b22..645d01e32fd 100755
--- a/Lib/plat-win/socket.py
+++ b/Lib/plat-win/socket.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def __init__(self, sock):
 	self._sock = sock
 
     def close(self):
-	self._sock = None
+	self._sock = 0
 
     def __del__(self):
 	self.close()
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def close(self):
 	    if self._sock:
 		self.flush()
 	finally:
-	    self._sock = None
+	    self._sock = 0
 
     def __del__(self):
 	self.close()