diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt.py b/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt.py
index 9001a3657..387f9f041 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/hyperopt.py
@@ -665,7 +665,9 @@ class Hyperopt:
         dump(preprocessed, self.data_pickle_file)
 
         # We don't need exchange instance anymore while running hyperopt
-        self.backtesting.exchange = None  # type: ignore
+        self.backtesting.exchange._api = None  # type: ignore
+        self.backtesting.exchange._api_async = None  # type: ignore
+        # self.backtesting.exchange = None  # type: ignore
         self.backtesting.pairlists = None  # type: ignore
         self.backtesting.strategy.dp = None  # type: ignore
         IStrategy.dp = None  # type: ignore