diff --git a/lib/nntp.js b/lib/nntp.js
index 88496e5..bdffbfa 100644
--- a/lib/nntp.js
+++ b/lib/nntp.js
@@ -259,9 +259,12 @@ NNTP.prototype.connect = function(options) {
             else
               self._stream.emit('end');
             self._stream.emit('close', isErr);
-          } else if (isErr)
-            self._curReq.cb(makeError(ERRORS[code], code));
-          else {
+          } else if (isErr) {
+            // this isn't always set (see .end())
+            if (self._curReq) {
+              self._curReq.cb(makeError(ERRORS[code], code));
+            }
+          } else {
             self._curReq.cb(undefined, code, retval, type);
             self._buffer = '';
           }