diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index a573098..961a5da 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const EventEmitter = require('events')
 const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const path = require('path')
 const sleep = require('atomic-sleep')
+const assert = require('assert')
 
 const BUSY_WRITE_TIMEOUT = 100
 
@@ -374,6 +375,11 @@ function actualClose (sonic) {
     sonic.once('ready', actualClose.bind(null, sonic))
     return
   }
+  if (sonic._writing) {
+    sonic.once('drain', actualClose.bind(null, sonic))
+    return
+  }
+  assert(!sonic._writing)
   // TODO write a test to check if we are not leaking fds
   fs.close(sonic.fd, (err) => {
     if (err) {