diff --git a/src/cachew/__init__.py b/src/cachew/__init__.py
index 1774e2d..ec8ae00 100644
--- a/src/cachew/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cachew/__init__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@
     fromisoformat = datetime.fromisoformat
 
 
+from .compat import fix_sqlalchemy_StatementError_str
+try:
+    fix_sqlalchemy_StatementError_str()
+except Exception as e:
+    # todo warn or something??
+    pass
+
+
 # in case of changes in the way cachew stores data, this should be changed to discard old caches
 CACHEW_VERSION: str = __version__
 
@@ -873,6 +881,8 @@ def cachew_wrapper(
         yield from func(*args, **kwargs)
         return
 
+    early_exit = False
+
     # WARNING: annoyingly huge try/catch ahead...
     # but it lets us save a function call, hence a stack frame
     # see test_recursive and test_deep_recursive
@@ -980,7 +990,12 @@ def flush():
                     chunk = []
 
             for d in datas:
-                yield d
+                try:
+                    yield d
+                except GeneratorExit:
+                    early_exit = True
+                    return
+                  
                 chunk.append(binder.to_row(d))
                 if len(chunk) >= chunk_by:
                     flush()
@@ -993,6 +1008,10 @@ def flush():
             # pylint: disable=no-value-for-parameter
             conn.execute(db.table_hash.insert().values([{'value': h}]))
     except Exception as e:
+        # sigh... see test_early_exit_shutdown...
+        if early_exit and 'Cannot operate on a closed database' in str(e):
+            return
+
         # todo hmm, kinda annoying that it tries calling the function twice?
         # but gonna require some sophisticated cooperation with the cached wrapper otherwise
         cachew_error(e)
diff --git a/src/cachew/compat.py b/src/cachew/compat.py
index 39044d8..3939d7a 100644
--- a/src/cachew/compat.py
+++ b/src/cachew/compat.py
@@ -130,3 +130,48 @@ def nullcontext():
         yield
     finally:
         pass
+
+
+###
+
+import sys
+def fix_sqlalchemy_StatementError_str():
+    # see https://github.com/sqlalchemy/sqlalchemy/issues/5632
+    import sqlalchemy # type: ignore
+    v = sqlalchemy.__version__
+    if v != '1.3.19':
+        # sigh... will still affect smaller versions.. but patching code to remove import dynamically would be far too mad
+        return
+
+    from sqlalchemy.util import compat # type: ignore
+    from sqlalchemy.exc import StatementError as SE # type: ignore
+
+    def _sql_message(self, as_unicode):
+        details = [self._message(as_unicode=as_unicode)]
+        if self.statement:
+            if not as_unicode and not compat.py3k:
+                stmt_detail = "[SQL: %s]" % compat.safe_bytestring(
+                    self.statement
+                )
+            else:
+                stmt_detail = "[SQL: %s]" % self.statement
+            details.append(stmt_detail)
+            if self.params:
+                if self.hide_parameters:
+                    details.append(
+                        "[SQL parameters hidden due to hide_parameters=True]"
+                    )
+                else:
+                    # NOTE: this will still cause issues
+                    from sqlalchemy.sql import util # type: ignore
+
+                    params_repr = util._repr_params(
+                        self.params, 10, ismulti=self.ismulti
+                    )
+                    details.append("[parameters: %r]" % params_repr)
+        code_str = self._code_str()
+        if code_str:
+            details.append(code_str)
+        return "\n".join(["(%s)" % det for det in self.detail] + details)
+
+    SE._sql_message = _sql_message
diff --git a/src/cachew/tests/test_cachew.py b/src/cachew/tests/test_cachew.py
index 52b0c25..4306b55 100644
--- a/src/cachew/tests/test_cachew.py
+++ b/src/cachew/tests/test_cachew.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 from datetime import datetime, date, timezone
 import inspect
+from itertools import islice
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 from random import Random
-from subprocess import check_call
+from subprocess import check_call, run, PIPE
 import string
 import sys
 import time
@@ -1034,3 +1035,64 @@ def fun() -> Iterator[int]:
         assert calls == 2
         assert list(fun()) == [1, 2]
         assert calls == 3
+
+
+def test_early_exit(tmp_path: Path):
+    cf = 0
+    @cachew(tmp_path) #  / 'fun', force_file=True)
+    def f() -> Iterator[int]:
+        yield from range(20)
+        nonlocal cf
+        cf += 1
+
+    cg = 0
+    @cachew(tmp_path) # / 'fun', force_file=True)
+    def g() -> Iterator[int]:
+        yield from f()
+        nonlocal cg
+        cg += 1
+
+    assert len(list(islice(g(), 0, 10))) == 10
+    assert cf == 0 # hasn't finished
+    assert cg == 0 # hasn't finished
+
+    # todo not sure if need to check that db is empty?
+   
+    assert len(list(g())) == 20
+    assert cf == 1
+    assert cg == 1
+
+    # should be cached now
+    assert len(list(g())) == 20
+    assert cf == 1
+    assert cg == 1
+
+
+# see https://github.com/sqlalchemy/sqlalchemy/issues/5522#issuecomment-705156746
+def test_early_exit_shutdown(tmp_path: Path):
+    # don't ask... otherwise the exception doesn't appear :shrug:
+    import_hack = '''
+from sqlalchemy import Column
+
+import re
+re.hack = lambda: None
+    '''
+    Path(tmp_path / 'import_hack.py').write_text(import_hack)
+
+    prog = f'''
+import import_hack
+
+import cachew
+cachew.settings.THROW_ON_ERROR = True # todo check with both?
+@cachew.cachew('{tmp_path}', cls=int)
+def fun():
+    yield 0
+
+g = fun()
+e = next(g)
+
+print("FINISHED")
+    '''
+    r = run(['python3', '-c', prog], cwd=tmp_path, stderr=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, check=True)
+    assert r.stdout.strip() == b'FINISHED'
+    assert b'Traceback' not in r.stderr