diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/tcpdns.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/tcpdns.c
index eda6aa62ce..cabc90533d 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/tcpdns.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/tcpdns.c
@@ -808,6 +808,13 @@ isc__nm_tcpdns_processbuffer(isc_nmsocket_t *sock) {
 		return (ISC_R_CANCELED);
 	}
 
+	if (sock->client && !sock->recv_read) {
+		/*
+		 * We are not reading data - stop here.
+		 */
+		return (ISC_R_CANCELED);
+	}
+
 	req = isc__nm_get_read_req(sock, NULL);
 	REQUIRE(VALID_UVREQ(req));
 
diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/tlsdns.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/tlsdns.c
index d30e33fbfd..cfc62eb5e9 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/tlsdns.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/tlsdns.c
@@ -1016,6 +1016,13 @@ isc__nm_tlsdns_processbuffer(isc_nmsocket_t *sock) {
 		return (ISC_R_CANCELED);
 	}
 
+	if (sock->client && !sock->recv_read) {
+		/*
+		 * We are not reading data - stop here.
+		 */
+		return (ISC_R_CANCELED);
+	}
+
 	req = isc__nm_get_read_req(sock, NULL);
 	REQUIRE(VALID_UVREQ(req));