diff --git a/piker/ipc.py b/piker/ipc.py
index 0470a650..c643ccc8 100644
--- a/piker/ipc.py
+++ b/piker/ipc.py
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ class StreamQueue:
     async def __aiter__(self):
         return self._agen
 
+    def connected(self):
+        return self.stream.socket.fileno() != -1
+
 
 class Channel:
     """A channel to actors in other processes.
@@ -101,7 +104,7 @@ class Channel:
         return self.squeue.raddr if self.squeue else (None, None)
 
     async def connect(self, destaddr: Tuple[str, int] = None, **kwargs):
-        if self.squeue is not None:
+        if self.connected():
             raise RuntimeError("channel is already connected?")
         destaddr = destaddr or self._destaddr
         stream = await trio.open_tcp_stream(*destaddr, **kwargs)
@@ -119,8 +122,10 @@ class Channel:
             if self._autorecon:
                 await self._reconnect()
                 return await self.recv()
+            self.squeue = None
 
     async def aclose(self, *args):
+        log.debug(f"Closing {self}")
         await self.squeue.stream.aclose()
         self.squeue = None
 
@@ -178,6 +183,7 @@ class Channel:
             except trio.BrokenStreamError:
                 if not self._autorecon:
                     raise
+            await self.aclose()
             self.squeue = None
             if self._autorecon:  # attempt reconnect
                 await self._reconnect()
@@ -186,4 +192,4 @@ class Channel:
                 return
 
     def connected(self):
-        return self.squeue is not None
+        return self.squeue.connected() if self.squeue else False