diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/net/BlockingClient.java b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/net/BlockingClient.java
index a6762b269a22..fc0873e001fb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/net/BlockingClient.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/net/BlockingClient.java
@@ -145,11 +145,14 @@ public void closeConnection() {
     @Override
     public synchronized void writeBytes(byte[] message) throws IOException {
         try {
-            OutputStream stream = socket.getOutputStream();
-            stream.write(message);
-            stream.flush();
+            if(!socket.isClosed()) {
+                OutputStream stream = socket.getOutputStream();
+                stream.write(message);
+                stream.flush();
+            }
         } catch (IOException e) {
-            log.error("Error writing message to connection, closing connection", e);
+            if(!(e instanceof SocketException && e.toString().equals("Socket is closed")))
+                log.error("Error writing message to connection, closing connection", e);
             closeConnection();
             throw e;
         }