diff --git a/protocols/gossipsub/src/handler.rs b/protocols/gossipsub/src/handler.rs
index 2c9212865535..9aa7324508ee 100644
--- a/protocols/gossipsub/src/handler.rs
+++ b/protocols/gossipsub/src/handler.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ use log::{error, trace, warn};
 use smallvec::SmallVec;
 use std::{
     collections::VecDeque,
-    io,
     pin::Pin,
     task::{Context, Poll},
     time::Duration,
@@ -291,13 +290,16 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
     > {
         // Handle any upgrade errors
         if let Some(error) = self.upgrade_errors.pop_front() {
-            let reported_error = match error {
+            match error {
                 // Timeout errors get mapped to NegotiationTimeout and we close the connection.
                 ConnectionHandlerUpgrErr::Timeout | ConnectionHandlerUpgrErr::Timer => {
                     Some(HandlerError::NegotiationTimeout)
                 }
                 // There was an error post negotiation, close the connection.
-                ConnectionHandlerUpgrErr::Upgrade(UpgradeError::Apply(e)) => Some(e),
+                ConnectionHandlerUpgrErr::Upgrade(UpgradeError::Apply(e)) => {
+                    self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::No;
+                    log::info!("Gossipsub error: {e}");
+                }
                 ConnectionHandlerUpgrErr::Upgrade(UpgradeError::Select(negotiation_error)) => {
                     match negotiation_error {
                         NegotiationError::Failed => {
@@ -317,15 +319,14 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
                             }
                         }
                         NegotiationError::ProtocolError(e) => {
-                            Some(HandlerError::NegotiationProtocolError(e))
+                            self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::No;
+                            log::info!(
+                                "Gossipsub error: {}",
+                                HandlerError::NegotiationProtocolError(e)
+                            );
                         }
                     }
                 }
-            };
-
-            // If there was a fatal error, close the connection.
-            if let Some(error) = reported_error {
-                return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(error));
             }
         }
 
@@ -340,9 +341,8 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
 
         if self.inbound_substreams_created > MAX_SUBSTREAM_CREATION {
             // Too many inbound substreams have been created, end the connection.
-            return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(
-                HandlerError::MaxInboundSubstreams,
-            ));
+            self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::No;
+            log::info!("Gossipsub error: {}", HandlerError::MaxInboundSubstreams);
         }
 
         // determine if we need to create the stream
@@ -351,9 +351,8 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
             && !self.outbound_substream_establishing
         {
             if self.outbound_substreams_created >= MAX_SUBSTREAM_CREATION {
-                return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(
-                    HandlerError::MaxOutboundSubstreams,
-                ));
+                self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::No;
+                log::info!("Gossipsub error: {}", HandlerError::MaxInboundSubstreams);
             }
             let message = self.send_queue.remove(0);
             self.send_queue.shrink_to_fit();
@@ -475,14 +474,14 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
                                         Some(OutboundSubstreamState::WaitingOutput(substream));
                                 }
                                 Err(e) => {
-                                    error!("Error sending message: {}", e);
-                                    return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(e));
+                                    error!("Error sending message: {e}");
+                                    break;
                                 }
                             }
                         }
                         Poll::Ready(Err(e)) => {
-                            error!("Outbound substream error while sending output: {:?}", e);
-                            return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(e));
+                            error!("Outbound substream error while sending output: {e:?}");
+                            break;
                         }
                         Poll::Pending => {
                             self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::Yes;
@@ -504,7 +503,8 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
                                 Some(OutboundSubstreamState::WaitingOutput(substream))
                         }
                         Poll::Ready(Err(e)) => {
-                            return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(e))
+                            log::info!("NegotaitedSubstream error: {e}");
+                            break;
                         }
                         Poll::Pending => {
                             self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::Yes;
@@ -525,14 +525,8 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for Handler {
                             break;
                         }
                         Poll::Ready(Err(e)) => {
-                            warn!("Outbound substream error while closing: {:?}", e);
-                            return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::Close(
-                                io::Error::new(
-                                    io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe,
-                                    "Failed to close outbound substream",
-                                )
-                                .into(),
-                            ));
+                            warn!("Outbound substream error while closing: {e:?}");
+                            break;
                         }
                         Poll::Pending => {
                             self.keep_alive = KeepAlive::No;