diff --git a/lib/connection.js b/lib/connection.js
index b0ceb77029b..f38647d855a 100644
--- a/lib/connection.js
+++ b/lib/connection.js
@@ -842,6 +842,11 @@ Connection.prototype._waitForConnect = async function _waitForConnect() {
           },
           bufferTimeoutMS
         );
+
+        // dont cause this timeout to keep the js process alive
+        if ('unref' in timeout) {
+          timeout.unref();
+        }
       })
     ]);