diff --git a/xfr.go b/xfr.go
index 0a831c880..05b3c5add 100644
--- a/xfr.go
+++ b/xfr.go
@@ -80,8 +80,13 @@ func (t *Transfer) In(q *Msg, a string) (env chan *Envelope, err error) {
 
 func (t *Transfer) inAxfr(q *Msg, c chan *Envelope) {
 	first := true
-	defer t.Close()
-	defer close(c)
+	defer func() {
+		// First close the connection, then the channel. This allows functions blocked on
+		// the channel to assume that the connection is closed and no further operations are
+		// pending when they resume.
+		t.Close()
+		close(c)
+	}()
 	timeout := dnsTimeout
 	if t.ReadTimeout != 0 {
 		timeout = t.ReadTimeout
@@ -131,8 +136,13 @@ func (t *Transfer) inIxfr(q *Msg, c chan *Envelope) {
 	axfr := true
 	n := 0
 	qser := q.Ns[0].(*SOA).Serial
-	defer t.Close()
-	defer close(c)
+	defer func() {
+		// First close the connection, then the channel. This allows functions blocked on
+		// the channel to assume that the connection is closed and no further operations are
+		// pending when they resume.
+		t.Close()
+		close(c)
+	}()
 	timeout := dnsTimeout
 	if t.ReadTimeout != 0 {
 		timeout = t.ReadTimeout