diff --git a/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl b/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
index 3e80dfa..f9f08ba 100644
--- a/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
+++ b/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ start(Partition, Config) ->
 
 %% @doc Stop the wterl backend
 -spec stop(state()) -> ok.
-stop(#state{connection=Connection}) ->
-    wterl_conn:close(Connection).
+stop(_State) ->
+    ok. %% The connection is closed by wterl_conn:stop()
 
 %% @doc Retrieve an object from the wterl backend
 -spec get(riak_object:bucket(), riak_object:key(), state()) ->