diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-connection_persist_issue.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-connection_persist_issue.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d8783687e22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-connection_persist_issue.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- ansible-connection persists even after playbook run is completed (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/61591)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py b/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
index 07663683b10..5a61aa71674 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/scripts/ansible_connection_cli_stub.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class ConnectionProcess(object):
 
     def run(self):
         try:
-            while True:
+            while not self.connection._conn_closed:
                 signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, self.connect_timeout)
                 signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, self.handler)
                 signal.alarm(self.connection.get_option('persistent_connect_timeout'))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/__init__.py
index 14973dd6f3a..818d3416922 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/__init__.py
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ class NetworkConnectionBase(ConnectionBase):
     def __init__(self, play_context, new_stdin, *args, **kwargs):
         super(NetworkConnectionBase, self).__init__(play_context, new_stdin, *args, **kwargs)
         self._messages = []
+        self._conn_closed = False
 
         self._network_os = self._play_context.network_os
 
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@ class NetworkConnectionBase(ConnectionBase):
         self.queue_message('vvvv', 'reset call on connection instance')
 
     def close(self):
+        self._conn_closed = True
         if self._connected:
             self._connected = False