diff --git a/packages/pg-pool/index.js b/packages/pg-pool/index.js
index e7d2d883..0a88d829 100644
--- a/packages/pg-pool/index.js
+++ b/packages/pg-pool/index.js
@@ -205,6 +205,10 @@ class Pool extends EventEmitter {
         response.callback(new Error('timeout exceeded when trying to connect'))
       }, this.options.connectionTimeoutMillis)
 
+      if (tid.unref) {
+        tid.unref()
+      }
+
       this._pendingQueue.push(pendingItem)
       return result
     }
diff --git a/packages/pg/lib/client.js b/packages/pg/lib/client.js
index 527f62e4..1304c951 100644
--- a/packages/pg/lib/client.js
+++ b/packages/pg/lib/client.js
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ class Client extends EventEmitter {
         con._ending = true
         con.stream.destroy(new Error('timeout expired'))
       }, this._connectionTimeoutMillis)
+
+      if (this.connectionTimeoutHandle.unref) {
+        this.connectionTimeoutHandle.unref()
+      }
     }
 
     if (this.host && this.host.indexOf('/') === 0) {