diff --git a/crates/net/discv5/src/lib.rs b/crates/net/discv5/src/lib.rs
index 2b5a1432057..83b37e056a3 100644
--- a/crates/net/discv5/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/net/discv5/src/lib.rs
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ impl Discv5 {
             bootstrap_lookup_interval,
             bootstrap_lookup_countdown,
             metrics.clone(),
-            discv5.clone(),
+            Arc::downgrade(&discv5),
         );
 
         Ok((
@@ -573,14 +573,19 @@ pub fn spawn_populate_kbuckets_bg(
     bootstrap_lookup_interval: u64,
     bootstrap_lookup_countdown: u64,
     metrics: Discv5Metrics,
-    discv5: Arc<discv5::Discv5>,
+    discv5: std::sync::Weak<discv5::Discv5>,
 ) {
-    let local_node_id = discv5.local_enr().node_id();
     let lookup_interval = Duration::from_secs(lookup_interval);
     let metrics = metrics.discovered_peers;
     let mut kbucket_index = MAX_KBUCKET_INDEX;
     let pulse_lookup_interval = Duration::from_secs(bootstrap_lookup_interval);
     task::spawn(async move {
+        let Some(discv5_handle) = discv5.upgrade() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let local_node_id = discv5_handle.local_enr().node_id();
+        drop(discv5_handle);
+
         // make many fast lookup queries at bootstrap, trying to fill kbuckets at furthest
         // log2distance from local node
         for i in (0..bootstrap_lookup_countdown).rev() {
@@ -593,7 +598,12 @@ pub fn spawn_populate_kbuckets_bg(
                 "starting bootstrap boost lookup query"
             );
 
-            lookup(target, &discv5, &metrics).await;
+            {
+                let Some(discv5_handle) = discv5.upgrade() else {
+                    return;
+                };
+                lookup(target, &discv5_handle, &metrics).await;
+            }
 
             tokio::time::sleep(pulse_lookup_interval).await;
         }
@@ -610,7 +620,12 @@ pub fn spawn_populate_kbuckets_bg(
                 "starting periodic lookup query"
             );
 
-            lookup(target, &discv5, &metrics).await;
+            {
+                let Some(discv5_handle) = discv5.upgrade() else {
+                    return;
+                };
+                lookup(target, &discv5_handle, &metrics).await;
+            }
 
             if kbucket_index > DEFAULT_MIN_TARGET_KBUCKET_INDEX {
                 // try to populate bucket one step closer
@@ -698,6 +713,10 @@ mod test {
     use ::enr::{CombinedKey, EnrKey};
     use rand_08::thread_rng;
     use reth_chainspec::MAINNET;
+    use std::{
+        net::UdpSocket,
+        time::{Duration, Instant},
+    };
     use tracing::trace;
 
     fn discv5_noop() -> Discv5 {
@@ -736,6 +755,61 @@ mod test {
         Discv5::start(&secret_key, discv5_config).await.expect("should build discv5")
     }
 
+    async fn start_discovery_node_with_key(
+        secret_key: &SecretKey,
+        udp_port_discv5: u16,
+    ) -> Result<(Discv5, mpsc::Receiver<discv5::Event>), Error> {
+        let discv5_addr: SocketAddr = format!("127.0.0.1:{udp_port_discv5}").parse().unwrap();
+        let rlpx_addr: SocketAddr = "127.0.0.1:30303".parse().unwrap();
+
+        let discv5_listen_config = ListenConfig::from(discv5_addr);
+        let discv5_config = Config::builder(rlpx_addr)
+            .discv5_config(discv5::ConfigBuilder::new(discv5_listen_config).build())
+            .build();
+
+        Discv5::start(secret_key, discv5_config).await
+    }
+
+    fn unused_udp_port() -> u16 {
+        UdpSocket::bind("127.0.0.1:0").unwrap().local_addr().unwrap().port()
+    }
+
+    async fn wait_for_udp_port_release(port: u16, timeout: Duration) {
+        let deadline = Instant::now() + timeout;
+
+        loop {
+            match UdpSocket::bind(("127.0.0.1", port)) {
+                Ok(socket) => {
+                    drop(socket);
+                    return;
+                }
+                Err(err) if Instant::now() < deadline => {
+                    trace!(target: "net::discv5::test", %port, %err, "waiting for discv5 port release");
+                    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+                }
+                Err(err) => panic!("discv5 did not release port {port} before timeout: {err}"),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+    async fn discv5_releases_port_on_drop() {
+        reth_tracing::init_test_tracing();
+
+        let secret_key = SecretKey::new(&mut thread_rng());
+        let port = unused_udp_port();
+
+        let (node, updates) =
+            start_discovery_node_with_key(&secret_key, port).await.expect("should start discv5");
+        drop(updates);
+        drop(node);
+
+        wait_for_udp_port_release(port, Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+
+        let restarted = start_discovery_node_with_key(&secret_key, port).await;
+        assert!(restarted.is_ok(), "discv5 failed to rebind dropped port: {restarted:?}");
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
     async fn discv5() {
         reth_tracing::init_test_tracing();