diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index fecd6ad5..7e633af2 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 0.163
+  - fix hanging connections for some user (boo#1068470)
   - add sendsysrq command (requires OBS 2.10)
 
 0.162.1
diff --git a/osc/oscssl.py b/osc/oscssl.py
index 7aa5a0d8..78254f20 100644
--- a/osc/oscssl.py
+++ b/osc/oscssl.py
@@ -216,12 +216,17 @@ class myHTTPSHandler(M2Crypto.m2urllib2.HTTPSHandler):
         # So make sure the connection gets closed after the (only)
         # request.
         headers["Connection"] = "close"
+        # closing connection ourself to avoid hanging connnections: bsc#1068470
+        #headers["Connection"] = "close"
         try:
             h.request(req.get_method(), selector, req.data, headers)
             s = h.get_session()
             if s:
                 self.saved_session = s
             r = h.getresponse()
+
+            # close the connection ourselves
+            h.close()
         except socket.error as err: # XXX what error?
             err.filename = full_url
             raise M2Crypto.m2urllib2.URLError(err)