diff --git a/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py b/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
index ae1df24026..860b79512d 100644
--- a/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
+++ b/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
@@ -623,13 +623,21 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
         def _done(task: Optional['asyncio.Future[Any]']) -> bool:
             return task is not None and task.done()
 
-        # NB: We can't rely on _bh_tasks being done() here, it may not
-        #     yet have had a chance to run and gather itself.
+        # Are we already in an error pathway? If either of the tasks are
+        # already done, or if we have no tasks but a reader/writer; we
+        # must be.
+        #
+        # NB: We can't use _bh_tasks to check for premature task
+        # completion, because it may not yet have had a chance to run
+        # and gather itself.
         tasks = tuple(filter(None, (self._writer_task, self._reader_task)))
         error_pathway = _done(self._reader_task) or _done(self._writer_task)
+        if not tasks:
+            error_pathway |= bool(self._reader) or bool(self._writer)
 
         try:
-            # Try to flush the writer, if possible:
+            # Try to flush the writer, if possible.
+            # This *may* cause an error and force us over into the error path.
             if not error_pathway:
                 await self._bh_flush_writer()
         except BaseException as err:
@@ -639,7 +647,7 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
             self.logger.debug("%s:\n%s\n", emsg, pretty_traceback())
             raise
         finally:
-            # Cancel any still-running tasks:
+            # Cancel any still-running tasks (Won't raise):
             if self._writer_task is not None and not self._writer_task.done():
                 self.logger.debug("Cancelling writer task.")
                 self._writer_task.cancel()
@@ -652,7 +660,7 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
                 self.logger.debug("Waiting for tasks to complete ...")
                 await asyncio.wait(tasks)
 
-            # Lastly, close the stream itself. (May raise):
+            # Lastly, close the stream itself. (*May raise*!):
             await self._bh_close_stream(error_pathway)
             self.logger.debug("Disconnected.")