diff --git a/artiq/protocols/logging.py b/artiq/protocols/logging.py
index 5c282549ac..542e8da352 100644
--- a/artiq/protocols/logging.py
+++ b/artiq/protocols/logging.py
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ def emit(self, record):
         self._queue.put_nowait(record.source + ":" + self.format(record))
 
     async def _do(self):
+        reader = writer = None
         while True:
             try:
                 reader, writer = await asyncio.open_connection(self.host,
@@ -182,4 +183,5 @@ async def _do(self):
             except:
                 await asyncio.sleep(self.reconnect_timer)
             finally:
-                writer.close()
+                if writer is not None:
+                    writer.close()
diff --git a/artiq/protocols/pc_rpc.py b/artiq/protocols/pc_rpc.py
index d99ca06fb1..410cc89083 100644
--- a/artiq/protocols/pc_rpc.py
+++ b/artiq/protocols/pc_rpc.py
@@ -243,7 +243,8 @@ def close_rpc(self):
 
         No further method calls should be done after this method is called.
         """
-        self.__writer.close()
+        if self.__writer is not None:
+            self.__writer.close()
         self.__reader = None
         self.__writer = None
         self.__target_names = None