diff --git a/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer.go b/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer.go
index 36761e3658f..2c80f0d3032 100644
--- a/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer.go
+++ b/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func (w *Writer) Error() chan error {
 
 func (w *Writer) run() {
 	w.err <- w.runInner()
+	close(w.err)
 }
 
 func (w *Writer) runInner() error {
diff --git a/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer_test.go b/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..139dd44a593
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/asyncwriter/async_writer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package asyncwriter
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestAsyncWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	w := New(512, nil)
+
+	w.Start()
+	defer w.Stop()
+
+	w.Push(func() error {
+		return fmt.Errorf("testerror")
+	})
+
+	err := <-w.Error()
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "testerror")
+}
diff --git a/internal/servers/hls/muxer.go b/internal/servers/hls/muxer.go
index 6a319a5fb4e..ac103641194 100644
--- a/internal/servers/hls/muxer.go
+++ b/internal/servers/hls/muxer.go
@@ -165,6 +165,12 @@ func (m *muxer) runInner() error {
 		recreateTimer = emptyTimer()
 	}
 
+	defer func() {
+		if mi != nil {
+			mi.close()
+		}
+	}()
+
 	var activityCheckTimer *time.Timer
 	if m.remoteAddr != "" {
 		activityCheckTimer = time.NewTimer(closeCheckPeriod)
@@ -178,13 +184,12 @@ func (m *muxer) runInner() error {
 			req.res <- mi
 
 		case err := <-instanceError:
-			mi.close()
-
 			if m.remoteAddr != "" {
 				return err
 			}
 
 			m.Log(logger.Error, err.Error())
+			mi.close()
 			mi = nil
 			instanceError = make(chan error)
 			recreateTimer = time.NewTimer(recreatePause)
@@ -215,17 +220,11 @@ func (m *muxer) runInner() error {
 		case <-activityCheckTimer.C:
 			t := time.Unix(0, atomic.LoadInt64(m.lastRequestTime))
 			if time.Since(t) >= closeAfterInactivity {
-				if mi != nil {
-					mi.close()
-				}
 				return fmt.Errorf("not used anymore")
 			}
 			activityCheckTimer = time.NewTimer(closeCheckPeriod)
 
 		case <-m.ctx.Done():
-			if mi != nil {
-				mi.close()
-			}
 			return errors.New("terminated")
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/internal/servers/rtmp/conn.go b/internal/servers/rtmp/conn.go
index 2b7b8c02c94..4d78b737e52 100644
--- a/internal/servers/rtmp/conn.go
+++ b/internal/servers/rtmp/conn.go
@@ -237,10 +237,10 @@ func (c *conn) runRead(conn *rtmp.Conn, u *url.URL) error {
 	c.nconn.SetReadDeadline(time.Time{})
 
 	writer.Start()
+	defer writer.Stop()
 
 	select {
 	case <-c.ctx.Done():
-		writer.Stop()
 		return fmt.Errorf("terminated")
 
 	case err := <-writer.Error():
diff --git a/internal/servers/srt/conn.go b/internal/servers/srt/conn.go
index b227fe4fcd9..971fb5afcdc 100644
--- a/internal/servers/srt/conn.go
+++ b/internal/servers/srt/conn.go
@@ -327,10 +327,10 @@ func (c *conn) runRead(req srtNewConnReq, streamID *streamID) (bool, error) {
 	sconn.SetReadDeadline(time.Time{})
 
 	writer.Start()
+	defer writer.Stop()
 
 	select {
 	case <-c.ctx.Done():
-		writer.Stop()
 		return true, fmt.Errorf("terminated")
 
 	case err := <-writer.Error():
diff --git a/internal/servers/webrtc/session.go b/internal/servers/webrtc/session.go
index 67e3a2a8583..96d0f15ea50 100644
--- a/internal/servers/webrtc/session.go
+++ b/internal/servers/webrtc/session.go
@@ -612,17 +612,16 @@ func (s *session) runRead() (int, error) {
 	defer onUnreadHook()
 
 	writer.Start()
+	defer writer.Stop()
 
 	select {
 	case <-pc.Disconnected():
-		writer.Stop()
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("peer connection closed")
 
 	case err := <-writer.Error():
 		return 0, err
 
 	case <-s.ctx.Done():
-		writer.Stop()
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("terminated")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/test/source_tester.go b/internal/test/source_tester.go
index 475e653332d..7a52501aa15 100644
--- a/internal/test/source_tester.go
+++ b/internal/test/source_tester.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func (t *SourceTester) SetReady(req defs.PathSourceStaticSetReadyReq) defs.PathS
 	)
 
 	t.writer = asyncwriter.New(2048, t)
+
 	t.stream.AddReader(t.writer, req.Desc.Medias[0], req.Desc.Medias[0].Formats[0], func(u unit.Unit) error {
 		t.Unit <- u
 		close(t.Unit)