diff --git a/src/dialects/mysql2/index.js b/src/dialects/mysql2/index.js
index 3c1c225fa0..79e832192c 100644
--- a/src/dialects/mysql2/index.js
+++ b/src/dialects/mysql2/index.js
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ assign(Client_MySQL2.prototype, {
     return require('mysql2')
   },
 
-  validateConnection() {
-    return true
+  validateConnection(connection) {
+    return !connection._fatalError
   },
 
   // Get a raw connection, called by the `pool` whenever a new
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ assign(Client_MySQL2.prototype, {
     })
   },
 
+  destroyRawConnection(connection) {
+    if (!connection._fatalError) return Client_MySQL.prototype.destroyRawConnection(connection)
+  },
+
   processResponse(obj, runner) {
     const { response } = obj
     const { method } = obj