diff --git a/nova/rpc/impl_kombu.py b/nova/rpc/impl_kombu.py
index f78005e3c47..f3b78edc57e 100644
--- a/nova/rpc/impl_kombu.py
+++ b/nova/rpc/impl_kombu.py
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ def reconnect(self):
             try:
                 self._connect()
                 return
-            except self.connection_errors, e:
+            except (self.connection_errors, IOError), e:
                 pass
             except Exception, e:
                 # NOTE(comstud): Unfortunately it's possible for amqplib
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ def ensure(self, error_callback, method, *args, **kwargs):
         while True:
             try:
                 return method(*args, **kwargs)
-            except (self.connection_errors, socket.timeout), e:
+            except (self.connection_errors, socket.timeout, IOError), e:
                 pass
             except Exception, e:
                 # NOTE(comstud): Unfortunately it's possible for amqplib
diff --git a/nova/tests/rpc/test_kombu.py b/nova/tests/rpc/test_kombu.py
index 47d15f84445..aa49b5d5100 100644
--- a/nova/tests/rpc/test_kombu.py
+++ b/nova/tests/rpc/test_kombu.py
@@ -35,14 +35,15 @@ class MyException(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-def _raise_exc_stub(stubs, times, obj, method, exc_msg):
+def _raise_exc_stub(stubs, times, obj, method, exc_msg,
+        exc_class=MyException):
     info = {'called': 0}
     orig_method = getattr(obj, method)
 
     def _raise_stub(*args, **kwargs):
         info['called'] += 1
         if info['called'] <= times:
-            raise MyException(exc_msg)
+            raise exc_class(exc_msg)
         orig_method(*args, **kwargs)
     stubs.Set(obj, method, _raise_stub)
     return info
@@ -213,6 +214,18 @@ def test_declare_consumer_errors_will_reconnect(self):
         self.assertEqual(info['called'], 2)
         self.assertTrue(isinstance(result, self.rpc.DirectConsumer))
 
+    def test_declare_consumer_ioerrors_will_reconnect(self):
+        """Test that an IOError exception causes a reconnection"""
+        info = _raise_exc_stub(self.stubs, 2, self.rpc.DirectConsumer,
+                '__init__', 'Socket closed', exc_class=IOError)
+
+        conn = self.rpc.Connection()
+        result = conn.declare_consumer(self.rpc.DirectConsumer,
+                'test_topic', None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(info['called'], 3)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(result, self.rpc.DirectConsumer))
+
     def test_publishing_errors_will_reconnect(self):
         # Test that any exception with 'timeout' in it causes a
         # reconnection when declaring the publisher class and when