Index: asyncore.py
===================================================================
--- asyncore.py	(revision 74147)
+++ asyncore.py	(working copy)
@@ -416,8 +416,11 @@
             self.handle_read()
 
     def handle_connect_event(self):
+        # Since we don't know if we are connected yet here, set the connected
+        # state only after the connect event. This prevent unwanted failure
+        # when trying to send to unconnected socket.
+        self.handle_connect()
         self.connected = True
-        self.handle_connect()
 
     def handle_write_event(self):
         if self.accepting:
Index: test/test_asyncore.py
===================================================================
--- test/test_asyncore.py	(revision 74147)
+++ test/test_asyncore.py	(working copy)
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import asyncore
+import asynchat
 import unittest
 import select
 import os
 import socket
+import errno
 import threading
 import sys
 import time
@@ -302,7 +304,57 @@
         self.assertEquals(lines, expected)
 
 
+class testing_channel(asynchat.async_chat):
+    def __init__(self, *a, **kw):
+        asynchat.async_chat.__init__(self, *a, **kw)
+        self.exceptions = []
+        self.close_count = 0
 
+    def collect_incoming_data(self, data):
+        pass
+
+    def found_terminator(self):
+        pass
+
+    def handle_connect(self):
+        self.push("connected")
+    
+    def handle_error(self):
+        self.exceptions.append(sys.exc_info()[1])
+        self.handle_close()
+    
+    def handle_close(self):
+        self.close_count += 1
+        self.close()
+
+
+class ConnectionRefusedTests(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        s = socket.socket()
+        self.channel = testing_channel(s)
+
+        # Assumes that noone is listeing here
+        self.channel.connect(('localhost', 65535))
+        
+        # give time for socket to connect
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+        
+        asyncore.poll()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        asyncore.close_all()
+
+    def test_single_exception(self):
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.channel.exceptions), 1)
+
+    def test_connection_refused(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.channel.exceptions[0].args[0], errno.ECONNREFUSED)
+    
+    def test_close_once(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.channel.close_count, 1)
+
+
 class dispatcherwithsend_noread(asyncore.dispatcher_with_send):
     def readable(self):
         return False
@@ -393,8 +445,8 @@
 
 
 def test_main():
-    tests = [HelperFunctionTests, DispatcherTests, DispatcherWithSendTests,
-             DispatcherWithSendTests_UsePoll]
+    tests = [HelperFunctionTests, DispatcherTests, ConnectionRefusedTests,
+            DispatcherWithSendTests, DispatcherWithSendTests_UsePoll]
     if hasattr(asyncore, 'file_wrapper'):
         tests.append(FileWrapperTest)