diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index 2fe72ed..f0632df 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -478,12 +478,15 @@ func (c *Connection) Reply(ctx context.Context, opErr error) {
 
 	// Send the reply to the kernel.
 	replyMsg := kernelResponse(m.Header().Unique, op, opErr, c.protocol)
-	if err := c.writeMessage(replyMsg); err != nil {
-		if c.errorLogger != nil {
-			c.errorLogger.Printf("writeMessage: %v", err)
+	if replyMsg != nil {
+		if err := c.writeMessage(replyMsg); err != nil {
+			if c.errorLogger != nil {
+				c.errorLogger.Printf("writeMessage: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			return
 		}
 
-		return
 	}
 }