diff --git a/.claude/settings.local.json b/.claude/settings.local.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd4262a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/settings.local.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "permissions": {
+    "allow": [
+      "mcp__github__get_issue"
+    ],
+    "deny": [],
+    "ask": []
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/easyssh.go b/easyssh.go
index 233313d..5d3e2fa 100644
--- a/easyssh.go
+++ b/easyssh.go
@@ -292,18 +292,24 @@ func (ssh_conf *MakeConfig) Connect() (*ssh.Session, *ssh.Client, error) {
 			conn = result.conn
 			err = result.err
 		case <-ctx.Done():
+			proxyClient.Close()
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrProxyDialTimeout, ctx.Err())
 		}
 
 		if err != nil {
+			proxyClient.Close()
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 
 		ncc, chans, reqs, err := ssh.NewClientConn(conn, net.JoinHostPort(ssh_conf.Server, ssh_conf.Port), targetConfig)
 		if err != nil {
+			proxyClient.Close()
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 
+		// Close the proxy client after successfully establishing the target connection
+		// The target connection (ncc) is now independent of the proxy client
+		proxyClient.Close()
 		client = ssh.NewClient(ncc, chans, reqs)
 	} else {
 		client, err = ssh.Dial(string(ssh_conf.Protocol), net.JoinHostPort(ssh_conf.Server, ssh_conf.Port), targetConfig)
diff --git a/easyssh_test.go b/easyssh_test.go
index ec3edeb..ca470ce 100644
--- a/easyssh_test.go
+++ b/easyssh_test.go
@@ -666,3 +666,27 @@ func TestProxyGoroutineLeak(t *testing.T) {
 		"Goroutine leak detected: initial=%d, final=%d", initialGoroutines, finalGoroutines)
 }
 
+// TestProxyClientCleanup tests that proxy clients are properly closed during multiple Connect calls
+func TestProxyClientCleanup(t *testing.T) {
+	ssh := &MakeConfig{
+		Server:  "10.255.255.1", // Non-routable IP
+		User:    "testuser",
+		Port:    "22",
+		KeyPath: "./tests/.ssh/id_rsa",
+		Timeout: 500 * time.Millisecond, // Short timeout
+		Proxy: DefaultConfig{
+			User:    "testuser",
+			Server:  "10.255.255.2", // Another non-routable IP for proxy
+			Port:    "22",
+			KeyPath: "./tests/.ssh/id_rsa",
+			Timeout: 500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Test multiple connect attempts - they should all fail gracefully without leaking resources
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		_, _, err := ssh.Connect()
+		// Should have error due to non-routable IP, but no resource leaks
+		assert.NotNil(t, err, "Connect should fail with timeout/connection error")
+	}
+}