diff --git a/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack.go b/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack.go
index ea7ae50201e..ba38e31cecf 100644
--- a/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack.go
+++ b/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ func (s *connStack[C]) Pop() (*Pooled[C], bool) {
 
 		newHead := oldHead.next.Load()
 		if s.top.CompareAndSwap(oldHead, popCount, newHead, popCount+1) {
+			oldHead.next.Store(nil)
 			return oldHead, true
 		}
 		runtime.Gosched()
diff --git a/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack_test.go b/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a8150bd8186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/pools/smartconnpool/stack_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package smartconnpool
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+type testPooled struct {
+	Connection
+}
+
+func TestStackPop(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &connStack[testPooled]{}
+
+	first := &Pooled[testPooled]{}
+	s.Push(first)
+
+	second := &Pooled[testPooled]{}
+	s.Push(second)
+
+	c, ok := s.Pop()
+	assert.True(t, ok)
+
+	assert.Nil(t, c.next.Load())
+}