return ensureTreeConnected();
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     * Optimized to provide better resource cleanup with caching benefits.
     *
     * @see java.lang.AutoCloseable#close()
     */
    @Override
    public synchronized void close() {
        final SmbTreeHandleImpl th = this.treeHandle;
        if (th != null) {
            this.treeHandle = null;