diff --git a/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go b/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
index 00509acd44..fe6318824e 100644
--- a/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
+++ b/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ func remoteSideClosed(err error) bool {
 
 func (pc *persistConn) readLoop() {
 	defer close(pc.closech)
-	defer close(pc.writech)
 	alive := true
 	var lastbody io.ReadCloser // last response body, if any, read on this connection
 
@@ -640,19 +639,24 @@ func (pc *persistConn) readLoop() {
 }
 
 func (pc *persistConn) writeLoop() {
-	for wr := range pc.writech {
-		if pc.isBroken() {
-			wr.ch <- errors.New("http: can't write HTTP request on broken connection")
-			continue
+	for {
+		select {
+		case wr := <-pc.writech:
+			if pc.isBroken() {
+				wr.ch <- errors.New("http: can't write HTTP request on broken connection")
+				continue
+			}
+			err := wr.req.Request.write(pc.bw, pc.isProxy, wr.req.extra)
+			if err == nil {
+				err = pc.bw.Flush()
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				pc.markBroken()
+			}
+			wr.ch <- err
+		case <-pc.closech:
+			return
 		}
-		err := wr.req.Request.write(pc.bw, pc.isProxy, wr.req.extra)
-		if err == nil {
-			err = pc.bw.Flush()
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			pc.markBroken()
-		}
-		wr.ch <- err
 	}
 }