diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Mailer/Transport/Smtp/SmtpTransport.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Mailer/Transport/Smtp/SmtpTransport.php
index 0de38fb2ed690..7de2f91cbc132 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Mailer/Transport/Smtp/SmtpTransport.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Mailer/Transport/Smtp/SmtpTransport.php
@@ -205,11 +205,11 @@ protected function doSend(SentMessage $message): void
             $this->ping();
         }
 
-        if (!$this->started) {
-            $this->start();
-        }
-
         try {
+            if (!$this->started) {
+                $this->start();
+            }
+
             $envelope = $message->getEnvelope();
             $this->doMailFromCommand($envelope->getSender()->getEncodedAddress());
             foreach ($envelope->getRecipients() as $recipient) {