diff --git a/pkg/vere/io/conn.c b/pkg/vere/io/conn.c
index cd0cfc3c66..12ed601bdd 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/io/conn.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/io/conn.c
@@ -866,6 +866,10 @@ _conn_ef_handle(u3_conn*  con_u,
       can_u->mor_u.bal_f(can_u, -4, "handle-unknown");
       u3_king_bail();
     }
+
+    if ( !uv_is_readable((uv_stream_t*)&con_u->san_u->pyp_u) ) {
+      _conn_close_chan(con_u->san_u, can_u);
+    }
   }
   else {
     u3l_log("conn: handle-no-coq %" PRIx32 " %" PRIu32,
diff --git a/pkg/vere/newt.c b/pkg/vere/newt.c
index 40bfcff70e..43707f811b 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/newt.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/newt.c
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ _newt_read_cb(uv_stream_t*    str_u,
 
     if ( UV_EOF != len_i ) {
       fprintf(stderr, "newt: read failed %s\r\n", uv_strerror(len_i));
+      mot_u->bal_f(mot_u->ptr_v, len_i, uv_strerror(len_i));
     }
 
-    mot_u->bal_f(mot_u->ptr_v, len_i, uv_strerror(len_i));
   }
   //  EAGAIN/EWOULDBLOCK
   //