diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetclientstream.c b/src/rpc/virnetclientstream.c
index 4cd02952bf..7e2d9aeff0 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetclientstream.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetclientstream.c
@@ -268,6 +268,9 @@ int virNetClientStreamSetError(virNetClientStreamPtr st,
     st->err.int1 = err.int1;
     st->err.int2 = err.int2;
 
+    st->incomingEOF = true;
+    virNetClientStreamEventTimerUpdate(st);
+
     ret = 0;
 
 cleanup: