diff --git a/ssm/ssm2.py b/ssm/ssm2.py
index b7dc495d..fcff8e93 100644
--- a/ssm/ssm2.py
+++ b/ssm/ssm2.py
@@ -623,7 +623,6 @@ def start_connection(self):
             raise Ssm2Exception('Called start_connection() before a \
                     connection object was initialised.')
 
-        self._conn.start()
         self._conn.connect(wait=False)
 
         i = 0