diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
index 7d7f215c2..26eb346a4 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
@@ -135,7 +135,9 @@
                             , system_code_change/4
                             ]}).
 
--spec(start_link(esockd:transport(), esockd:socket(), emqx_channel:opts())
+-spec(start_link(esockd:transport(),
+                 esockd:socket() | {pid(), quicer:connection_handler()},
+                 emqx_channel:opts())
       -> {ok, pid()}).
 start_link(Transport, Socket, Options) ->
     Args = [self(), Transport, Socket, Options],
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_quic_connection.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_quic_connection.erl
index 2fe911001..3de607f75 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_quic_connection.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_quic_connection.erl
@@ -50,12 +50,8 @@ new_conn(Conn, S) ->
 
 -spec connected(quicer:connection_handler(), cb_state()) -> {ok, cb_state()} | {error, any()}.
 connected(Conn, #{slow_start := false} = S) ->
-    case emqx_connection:start_link(emqx_quic_stream, Conn, S) of
-        {ok, _Pid} ->
-            {ok, S};
-        Other ->
-            {error, Other}
-    end;
+    {ok, _Pid} = emqx_connection:start_link(emqx_quic_stream, Conn, S),
+    {ok, S};
 connected(_Conn, S) ->
     {ok, S}.