diff --git a/tools/functional-tester/etcd-runner/command/election_command.go b/tools/functional-tester/etcd-runner/command/election_command.go
index 81f1d5cc9..24610187d 100644
--- a/tools/functional-tester/etcd-runner/command/election_command.go
+++ b/tools/functional-tester/etcd-runner/command/election_command.go
@@ -129,8 +129,10 @@ func runElectionFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 				return err
 			}
 			if observedLeader == v {
-				close(nextc)
+				oldNextc := nextc
 				nextc = make(chan struct{})
+				close(oldNextc)
+
 			}
 			<-rcNextc
 			observedLeader = ""