diff --git a/components/esp_websocket_client/esp_websocket_client.c b/components/esp_websocket_client/esp_websocket_client.c
index 60ff5bbb15..35d2706c25 100644
--- a/components/esp_websocket_client/esp_websocket_client.c
+++ b/components/esp_websocket_client/esp_websocket_client.c
@@ -1464,12 +1464,13 @@ esp_err_t esp_websocket_client_start(esp_websocket_client_handle_t client)
         }
     }
 
+    xEventGroupClearBits(client->status_bits, STOPPED_BIT | CLOSE_FRAME_SENT_BIT | REQUESTED_STOP_BIT | WAKEUP_BIT);
     if (xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(esp_websocket_client_task, client->config->task_name ? client->config->task_name : "websocket_task",
                                 client->config->task_stack, client, client->config->task_prio, &client->task_handle, client->config->task_core_id) != pdTRUE) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Error create websocket task");
+        xEventGroupSetBits(client->status_bits, STOPPED_BIT);
         return ESP_FAIL;
     }
-    xEventGroupClearBits(client->status_bits, STOPPED_BIT | CLOSE_FRAME_SENT_BIT | REQUESTED_STOP_BIT | WAKEUP_BIT);
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Started");
     return ESP_OK;
 }