diff --git a/nsqd/protocol_v2.go b/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
index ccf0f7223..f89d7aef1 100644
--- a/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
+++ b/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ func (p *ProtocolV2) IOLoop(conn net.Conn) error {
 			}
 			log.Printf("ERROR: [%s] - %s%s", client, err.Error(), context)
 
-			err = p.Send(client, nsq.FrameTypeError, []byte(err.Error()))
-			if err != nil {
+			sendErr := p.Send(client, nsq.FrameTypeError, []byte(err.Error())); 
+			if sendErr != nil {
 				break
 			}
 
diff --git a/nsqd/protocol_v2_test.go b/nsqd/protocol_v2_test.go
index 4cc80f98a..f4d3ea6e9 100644
--- a/nsqd/protocol_v2_test.go
+++ b/nsqd/protocol_v2_test.go
@@ -587,6 +587,29 @@ func TestMaxRdyCount(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, string(data), "E_INVALID RDY count 51 out of range 0-50")
 }
 
+func TestFatalError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.SetOutput(ioutil.Discard)
+	defer log.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
+
+	tcpAddr, _ := mustStartNSQd(NewNsqdOptions())
+	defer nsqd.Exit()
+
+	conn, err := mustConnectNSQd(tcpAddr)
+	assert.Equal(t, err, nil)
+
+	_, err = conn.Write([]byte("ASDF\n"))
+	assert.Equal(t, err, nil)
+
+	resp, err := nsq.ReadResponse(conn)
+	assert.Equal(t, err, nil)
+	frameType, data, err := nsq.UnpackResponse(resp)
+	assert.Equal(t, frameType, int32(1))
+	assert.Equal(t, string(data), "E_INVALID invalid command ASDF")
+
+	_, err = nsq.ReadResponse(conn)
+	assert.NotEqual(t, err, nil)
+}
+
 func BenchmarkProtocolV2Exec(b *testing.B) {
 	b.StopTimer()
 	log.SetOutput(ioutil.Discard)