diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
index 83449df75dfa52..41e746d78cae12 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
@@ -111,12 +111,13 @@ def __init__(self, *args):
         self.breakpointPath = os.path.join(idleConf.GetUserCfgDir(),
                                            'breakpoints.lst')
         # whenever a file is changed, restore breakpoints
-        if self.io.filename: self.restore_file_breaks()
         def filename_changed_hook(old_hook=self.io.filename_change_hook,
                                   self=self):
             self.restore_file_breaks()
             old_hook()
         self.io.set_filename_change_hook(filename_changed_hook)
+        if self.io.filename:
+            self.restore_file_breaks()
 
     rmenu_specs = [
         ("Cut", "<<cut>>", "rmenu_check_cut"),
@@ -233,6 +234,9 @@ def store_file_breaks(self):
 
     def restore_file_breaks(self):
         self.text.update()   # this enables setting "BREAK" tags to be visible
+        if self.io is None:
+            # can happen if IDLE closes due to the .update() call
+            return
         filename = self.io.filename
         if filename is None:
             return
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b941ae0317a48c..8ffd9dee66bc06 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #17614: IDLE no longer raises exception when quickly closing a file.
+
 - Issue #6698: IDLE now opens just an editor window when configured to do so.
 
 - Issue #8900: Using keyboard shortcuts in IDLE to open a file no longer