diff --git a/io.c b/io.c
index b4e0a682..23e7822e 100644
--- a/io.c
+++ b/io.c
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ void noop_io_until_death(void)
 {
 	char buf[1024];
 
-	if (!iobuf.in.buf || !iobuf.out.buf || iobuf.in_fd == -1 || iobuf.out_fd == -1)
+	if (!iobuf.in.buf || !iobuf.out.buf || iobuf.in_fd < 0 || iobuf.out_fd < 0 || kluge_around_eof)
 		return;
 
 	kluge_around_eof = 2;