diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs b/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
index b568536..daace96 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
@@ -642,6 +642,8 @@ public sealed class NatsClient : IDisposable
                 if (Volatile.Read(ref _pingsOut) + 1 > _options.MaxPingsOut)
                 {
                     _logger.LogDebug("Client {ClientId} stale connection -- closing", Id);
+                    Interlocked.Increment(ref _serverStats.StaleConnections);
+                    Interlocked.Increment(ref _serverStats.StaleConnectionClients);
                     await SendErrAndCloseAsync(NatsProtocol.ErrStaleConnection, ClientClosedReason.StaleConnection);
                     return;
                 }
@@ -682,12 +684,6 @@ public sealed class NatsClient : IDisposable
                 break;
         }
 
-        if (reason == ClientClosedReason.StaleConnection)
-        {
-            Interlocked.Increment(ref _serverStats.StaleConnections);
-            Interlocked.Increment(ref _serverStats.StaleConnectionClients);
-        }
-
         _logger.LogDebug("Client {ClientId} connection closed: {CloseReason}", Id, reason);
     }