diff --git a/backend/smb/smb.go b/backend/smb/smb.go
index e858f86c4..c97a8e391 100644
--- a/backend/smb/smb.go
+++ b/backend/smb/smb.go
@@ -836,6 +836,11 @@ func (o *Object) Update(ctx context.Context, in io.Reader, src fs.ObjectInfo, op
 		return fmt.Errorf("Update Close failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Return the connection so the SetModTime below can reuse it rather than
+	// dialling a second one - the file is closed so remove() no longer needs
+	// it. This nils cn out, making the deferred putConnection a no-op.
+	o.fs.putConnection(&cn, nil)
+
 	// Set the modified time and also o.statResult
 	err = o.SetModTime(ctx, src.ModTime(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/backend/smb/smb_internal_test.go b/backend/smb/smb_internal_test.go
index 46f348754..00642ead7 100644
--- a/backend/smb/smb_internal_test.go
+++ b/backend/smb/smb_internal_test.go
@@ -3,11 +3,18 @@ package smb
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs"
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/object"
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fstest"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
@@ -46,6 +53,46 @@ func TestDialClosesConnectionOnSetupError(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorIs(t, err, io.EOF)
 }
 
+// TestUploadConnectionReuse checks an upload leaves only one connection in the
+// pool, ie the connection it used is available again for the SetModTime which
+// follows it rather than a second one being dialled.
+//
+// This needs a real SMB server so it is skipped if one isn't configured.
+func TestUploadConnectionReuse(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	fstest.Initialise()
+	remoteName := *fstest.RemoteName
+	if remoteName == "" {
+		remoteName = "TestSMB:rclone"
+	}
+	remote, err := fs.NewFs(ctx, remoteName)
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrorNotFoundInConfigFile) {
+		t.Skipf("skipping as %q is not configured", remoteName)
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	f, ok := remote.(*Fs)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Skipf("skipping as %q is not an SMB remote", remoteName)
+	}
+
+	defer func() { require.NoError(t, f.Shutdown(ctx)) }()
+
+	// Empty the pool so the connections counted below are only the upload's
+	require.NoError(t, f.drainPool(ctx))
+
+	const contents = "connection reuse test"
+	remotePath := fmt.Sprintf("rclone-test-connection-reuse-%d.txt", time.Now().UnixNano())
+	src := object.NewStaticObjectInfo(remotePath, time.Now(), int64(len(contents)), true, nil, nil)
+	o, err := f.Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(contents), src)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { require.NoError(t, o.Remove(ctx)) }()
+
+	f.poolMu.Lock()
+	pooled := len(f.pool)
+	f.poolMu.Unlock()
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, pooled, "upload should leave exactly one connection in the pool")
+}
+
 // TestIsPathDir tests the isPathDir function logic
 func TestIsPathDir(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {