diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 040cfe9e3..7833d3f2a 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -833,6 +833,10 @@ func (client *client) tryRefreshMetadata(topics []string, attemptsRemaining int,
 
 // if no fatal error, returns a list of topics that need retrying due to ErrLeaderNotAvailable
 func (client *client) updateMetadata(data *MetadataResponse, allKnownMetaData bool) (retry bool, err error) {
+	if client.Closed() {
+		return
+	}
+
 	client.lock.Lock()
 	defer client.lock.Unlock()