diff --git a/storage/nat.nim b/storage/nat.nim
index 24a3c902..9facf336 100644
--- a/storage/nat.nim
+++ b/storage/nat.nim
@@ -299,6 +299,8 @@ proc tryStartingDirectConn(
       let isRelayedAddr = address.contains(multiCodec("p2p-circuit"))
       if not isRelayedAddr.get(false) and address.isPublicMA():
         return await tryConnect(address)
+    except CancelledError as exc:
+      raise exc
     except CatchableError as err:
       debug "Failed to create direct connection.", description = err.msg
       continue