diff --git a/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py b/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
index 10b7a55a..a667cbdb 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ def unset_connection(self) -> None:
     async def wait_for_connection(
         self, timeout: Optional[float] = None
     ) -> AsyncConnectionInterface:
-        await self._connection_acquired.wait(timeout=timeout)
+        if self.connection is None:
+            await self._connection_acquired.wait(timeout=timeout)
         assert self.connection is not None
         return self.connection
 
diff --git a/httpcore/_sync/connection_pool.py b/httpcore/_sync/connection_pool.py
index 1a7025e1..379a5fce 100644
--- a/httpcore/_sync/connection_pool.py
+++ b/httpcore/_sync/connection_pool.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ def unset_connection(self) -> None:
     def wait_for_connection(
         self, timeout: Optional[float] = None
     ) -> ConnectionInterface:
-        self._connection_acquired.wait(timeout=timeout)
+        if self.connection is None:
+            self._connection_acquired.wait(timeout=timeout)
         assert self.connection is not None
         return self.connection