diff --git a/libp2p/kad_dht/provider_store.py b/libp2p/kad_dht/provider_store.py
index 3da4ff9a5..5d9973c7b 100644
--- a/libp2p/kad_dht/provider_store.py
+++ b/libp2p/kad_dht/provider_store.py
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@ async def _send_add_provider(self, peer_id: ID, key: bytes) -> bool:
             True if the message was successfully sent and acknowledged
 
         """
+        stream = None
+
         try:
             result = False
             # Open a stream to the peer
@@ -298,7 +300,8 @@ async def _send_add_provider(self, peer_id: ID, key: bytes) -> bool:
             logger.warning(f"Error sending ADD_PROVIDER to {peer_id}: {e}")
 
         finally:
-            await stream.close()
+            if stream is not None:
+                await stream.close()
             return result
 
     async def find_providers(self, key: bytes, count: int = 20) -> list[PeerInfo]: