diff --git a/initiatorpool/helper_test.go b/initiatorpool/helper_test.go
index a275bae..85bebcd 100644
--- a/initiatorpool/helper_test.go
+++ b/initiatorpool/helper_test.go
@@ -51,12 +51,3 @@ func setupWorkerTestConnection(t *testing.T) (
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	return
 }
-
-func connClosed(conn *transport.Connection) bool {
-	select {
-	case _, ok := <-conn.Errors():
-		return !ok
-	default:
-		return false
-	}
-}
diff --git a/initiatorpool/worker_test.go b/initiatorpool/worker_test.go
index 139aa14..bd7f612 100644
--- a/initiatorpool/worker_test.go
+++ b/initiatorpool/worker_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-func TestRunSession(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunSessionDial(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
@@ -127,14 +127,19 @@ func TestRunReader(t *testing.T) {
 		}()
 		go w.runReader(conn, messages, sessionDone, onStop)
 
-		// simulate remote close
+		// induce connection closure via reader
 		incomingData <- honeybeetest.MockIncomingData{Err: io.EOF}
 
+		err := <-conn.Errors()
+		assert.Equal(t, io.EOF, err)
+
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			return connClosed(conn)
+			return conn.State() == transport.StateClosed
 		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
-		assert.True(t, onStopCalled.Load())
+		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			return onStopCalled.Load()
+		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("sessionDone close calls conn.Close and onStop", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -157,10 +162,12 @@ func TestRunReader(t *testing.T) {
 		close(sessionDone)
 
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			return connClosed(conn)
+			return conn.State() == transport.StateClosed
 		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
-		assert.True(t, onStopCalled.Load())
+		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			return onStopCalled.Load()
+		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -181,10 +188,12 @@ func TestRunStopMonitor(t *testing.T) {
 		keepalive <- struct{}{}
 
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			return connClosed(conn)
+			return conn.State() == transport.StateClosed
 		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
-		assert.True(t, onStopCalled.Load())
+		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			return onStopCalled.Load()
+		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("ctx.Done calls conn.Close and onStop", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -202,10 +211,12 @@ func TestRunStopMonitor(t *testing.T) {
 		cancel()
 
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			return connClosed(conn)
+			return conn.State() == transport.StateClosed
 		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
-		assert.True(t, onStopCalled.Load())
+		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			return onStopCalled.Load()
+		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("sessionDone close calls conn.Close and onStop", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -224,10 +235,12 @@ func TestRunStopMonitor(t *testing.T) {
 		close(sessionDone)
 
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			return connClosed(conn)
+			return conn.State() == transport.StateClosed
 		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
-		assert.True(t, onStopCalled.Load())
+		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			return onStopCalled.Load()
+		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/transport/connection.go b/transport/connection.go
index 4ede803..c2e0c75 100644
--- a/transport/connection.go
+++ b/transport/connection.go
@@ -50,10 +50,12 @@ type Connection struct {
 
 	state ConnectionState
 
-	wg      sync.WaitGroup
-	closed  bool
-	mu      sync.RWMutex
-	writeMu sync.Mutex
+	wg          sync.WaitGroup
+	closed      bool
+	mu          sync.RWMutex
+	writeMu     sync.Mutex
+	doneOnce    sync.Once
+	cleanupOnce sync.Once
 }
 
 func NewConnection(urlStr string, config *ConnectionConfig, logger *slog.Logger) (*Connection, error) {
@@ -167,51 +169,151 @@ func (c *Connection) Connect(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (c *Connection) Close() {
+	c.shutdownExternal()
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownExternal() {
+	err := c.shutdownSetClosed(true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.shutdownInner()
+	c.shutdownCleanup()
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownInternal() {
+	err := c.shutdownSetClosed(false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.shutdownInner()
+
+	// defer final cleanup to allow this function to return
+	// otherwise, a deadlock occurs where startReader triggers a shutdown and
+	// must wait for itself to exit.
+	go func() {
+		c.shutdownCleanup()
+	}()
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownInner() {
+	c.shutdownSignalDone()
+	c.shutdownLogStart()
+	c.shutdownCloseSocket()
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownCleanup() {
+	c.cleanupOnce.Do(func() {
+		c.wg.Wait()
+		c.shutdownCloseChannels()
+		c.shutdownLogComplete()
+	})
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownSetClosed(wait bool) error {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	if c.closed {
+		c.mu.Unlock()
+		return ErrConnectionClosed
+	}
+	c.closed = true
+	c.state = StateClosed
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownSignalDone() {
+	c.doneOnce.Do(func() {
+		close(c.done)
+	})
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownLogStart() {
+	if c.logger != nil {
+		c.logger.Info("shutting down")
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownCloseSocket() {
+	if c.socket != nil {
+		// force unblock of any network operations immediately
+		expired := time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Minute)
+		c.socket.SetReadDeadline(expired)
+		c.socket.SetWriteDeadline(expired)
+
+		// close socket
+		err := c.socket.Close()
+
+		if err != nil && c.logger != nil {
+			c.logger.Error("socket close failed", "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownCloseChannels() {
+	close(c.incoming)
+	close(c.errors)
+}
+
+func (c *Connection) shutdownLogComplete() {
+	if c.logger != nil {
+		c.logger.Info("connection closed")
+	}
+}
+
 func (c *Connection) startReader() {
 	c.wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer c.wg.Done()
+		defer c.shutdownInternal()
 
 		for {
-			messageType, data, err := c.socket.ReadMessage()
-			if err != nil {
-				if c.logger != nil {
-					var closeErr *websocket.CloseError
-					if errors.As(err, &closeErr) {
-						switch closeErr.Code {
-						case websocket.CloseNormalClosure, websocket.CloseGoingAway:
-							c.logger.Info("connection closed by peer",
-								"code", closeErr.Code,
-								"text", closeErr.Text,
-							)
-						default:
-							c.logger.Error("unexpected close",
-								"code", closeErr.Code,
-								"text", closeErr.Text,
-							)
-						}
-					} else {
-						c.logger.Error("read error", "error", err)
-					}
-				}
-				select {
-				case c.errors <- err:
-				case <-c.done:
-				}
-				c.shutdown()
+			select {
+			case <-c.done:
 				return
-			}
+			default:
+				messageType, data, err := c.socket.ReadMessage()
+				if err != nil {
+					if c.logger != nil {
+						var closeErr *websocket.CloseError
+						if errors.As(err, &closeErr) {
+							switch closeErr.Code {
+							case websocket.CloseNormalClosure, websocket.CloseGoingAway:
+								c.logger.Info("connection closed by peer",
+									"code", closeErr.Code,
+									"text", closeErr.Text,
+								)
+							default:
+								c.logger.Error("unexpected close",
+									"code", closeErr.Code,
+									"text", closeErr.Text,
+								)
+							}
+						} else {
+							c.logger.Error("read error", "error", err)
+						}
+					}
 
-			if messageType == websocket.TextMessage ||
-				messageType == websocket.BinaryMessage {
-				select {
-				case c.incoming <- data:
-				case <-c.done:
-					c.shutdown()
+					select {
+					case <-c.done:
+					case c.errors <- err:
+					}
 					return
 				}
-			}
 
+				if messageType == websocket.TextMessage ||
+					messageType == websocket.BinaryMessage {
+					select {
+					case <-c.done:
+						return
+					case c.incoming <- data:
+					}
+				}
+
+			}
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -230,7 +332,7 @@ func (c *Connection) Send(data []byte) error {
 			if c.logger != nil {
 				c.logger.Error("write deadline error", "error", err)
 			}
-			c.shutdown()
+			c.shutdownExternal()
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to set write deadline: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -253,53 +355,6 @@ func (c *Connection) Errors() <-chan error {
 	return c.errors
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) shutdown() {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-
-	if c.closed {
-		c.mu.Unlock()
-		return
-	}
-
-	if c.logger != nil {
-		c.logger.Info("closing", "state", c.state.String())
-	}
-	c.closed = true
-	c.state = StateClosed
-	socket := c.socket
-	close(c.done)
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-
-	go func() {
-		if socket != nil {
-			// force immediate timeout of any blocked network I/O
-			expired := time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Minute)
-			socket.SetReadDeadline(expired)
-			socket.SetWriteDeadline(expired)
-			err := socket.Close()
-
-			if err != nil {
-				if c.logger != nil {
-					c.logger.Error("socket close failed", "error", err)
-				}
-			} else {
-				if c.logger != nil {
-					c.logger.Info("closed")
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		c.wg.Wait()
-		close(c.incoming)
-		close(c.errors)
-	}()
-
-}
-
-func (c *Connection) Close() {
-	c.shutdown()
-}
-
 func (c *Connection) State() ConnectionState {
 	c.mu.RLock()
 	defer c.mu.RUnlock()
diff --git a/transport/connection_close_test.go b/transport/connection_close_test.go
index fa44a99..241f75c 100644
--- a/transport/connection_close_test.go
+++ b/transport/connection_close_test.go
@@ -58,15 +58,11 @@ func TestDisconnectedConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 
 		conn.Close()
 
-		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			select {
-			case _, ok := <-conn.Errors():
-				return !ok
-			default:
-				return false
-			}
-		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick,
-			"errors channel should close")
+		assert.True(t, conn.closed)
+		_, ok := <-conn.incoming
+		assert.False(t, ok)
+		_, ok = <-conn.errors
+		assert.False(t, ok)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("send fails after close", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -103,32 +99,4 @@ func TestConnectedConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 		conn.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, StateClosed, conn.State())
 	})
-
-	t.Run("writer active during close exits cleanly", func(t *testing.T) {
-		conn, _, _, _ := setupTestConnection(t, nil)
-
-		for i := 0; i < 50; i++ {
-			conn.Send([]byte("message"))
-		}
-
-		conn.Close()
-
-		err := conn.Send([]byte("late"))
-		assert.Error(t, err, "Send should fail after close")
-		assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "connection closed")
-	})
-
-	t.Run("both goroutines active during close", func(t *testing.T) {
-		conn, _, incomingData, _ := setupTestConnection(t, nil)
-
-		for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-			incomingData <- honeybeetest.MockIncomingData{
-				MsgType: websocket.TextMessage,
-				Data:    []byte(fmt.Sprintf("in-%d", i)),
-			}
-			conn.Send([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("out-%d", i)))
-		}
-
-		conn.Close()
-	})
 }
diff --git a/transport/connection_goroutine_test.go b/transport/connection_goroutine_test.go
index 8203c63..8787a93 100644
--- a/transport/connection_goroutine_test.go
+++ b/transport/connection_goroutine_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 package transport
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"git.wisehodl.dev/jay/go-honeybee/honeybeetest"
 	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"io"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -62,23 +62,12 @@ func TestStartReader(t *testing.T) {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		readErr := fmt.Errorf("read failed")
 		mockSocket.ReadMessageFunc = func() (int, []byte, error) {
-			return 0, nil, readErr
+			return 0, nil, io.EOF
 		}
 
 		conn, err := NewConnectionFromSocket(mockSocket, nil, nil)
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
-		defer conn.Close()
-
-		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-			select {
-			case err := <-conn.Errors():
-				return err == readErr
-			default:
-				return false
-			}
-		}, honeybeetest.TestTimeout, honeybeetest.TestTick)
 
 		assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
 			return conn.State() == StateClosed
diff --git a/transport/connection_send_test.go b/transport/connection_send_test.go
index 211a024..6a17e88 100644
--- a/transport/connection_send_test.go
+++ b/transport/connection_send_test.go
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ func TestConnectionSend(t *testing.T) {
 			for {
 				select {
 				case msg := <-outgoingData:
-					fmt.Printf("got message %s\n", string(msg.Data))
 					mu.Lock()
 					messages = append(messages, string(msg.Data))
 					mu.Unlock()
@@ -69,7 +68,6 @@ func TestConnectionSend(t *testing.T) {
 				defer wg.Done()
 				for j := 0; j < 10; j++ {
 					data := []byte(fmt.Sprintf("msg-%d-%d", id, j))
-					fmt.Printf("sending message %s\n", string(data))
 					for {
 						// send and retry until success
 						err := conn.Send(data)
diff --git a/transport/logging_test.go b/transport/logging_test.go
index a103668..9b92830 100644
--- a/transport/logging_test.go
+++ b/transport/logging_test.go
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ func TestCloseLogging(t *testing.T) {
 		records := mockHandler.GetRecords()
 
 		expected := []expectedLog{
-			{slog.LevelInfo, "closing", map[string]any{"state": "connected"}},
+			{slog.LevelInfo, "shutting down", map[string]any{}},
 			{slog.LevelInfo, "closed", map[string]any{}},
 		}
 
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ func TestCloseLogging(t *testing.T) {
 		records := mockHandler.GetRecords()
 
 		expected := []expectedLog{
-			{slog.LevelInfo, "closing", map[string]any{"state": "connected"}},
+			{slog.LevelInfo, "shutting down", map[string]any{}},
 			{slog.LevelError, "socket close failed", map[string]any{"error": closeErr}},
 		}