diff --git a/p2p/rlpx/rlpx.go b/p2p/rlpx/rlpx.go
index 49d78aeffa..704a23324f 100644
--- a/p2p/rlpx/rlpx.go
+++ b/p2p/rlpx/rlpx.go
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ func (p *Protocol) ReadPacket() (totalSize uint32, r io.Reader, err error) {
 	for len(p.newPackets) == 0 && p.readErr == nil {
 		p.readCond.Wait()
 	}
-	if p.readErr != nil {
+	if len(p.newPackets) == 0 && p.readErr != nil {
 		return 0, nil, p.readErr
 	}
 	pr := p.newPackets[0]