diff --git a/src/or/connection.c b/src/or/connection.c
index daafc7d7c09b16d91514ceab17c6bf91de59eea4..6d6d362f2b5250202890edf7fef00aaa7bdc1f76 100644
--- a/src/or/connection.c
+++ b/src/or/connection.c
@@ -365,8 +365,6 @@ connection_free(connection_t *conn)
     conn->linked_conn = NULL;
   }
   if (connection_speaks_cells(conn)) {
-    if (conn->state == OR_CONN_STATE_OPEN)
-      directory_set_dirty();
     if (!tor_digest_is_zero(TO_OR_CONN(conn)->identity_digest)) {
       connection_or_remove_from_identity_map(TO_OR_CONN(conn));
     }