diff --git a/nsqd/protocol_v2.go b/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
index 54cd526a9..7e060e355 100644
--- a/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
+++ b/nsqd/protocol_v2.go
@@ -615,6 +615,10 @@ func (p *protocolV2) SUB(client *clientV2, params [][]byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	for {
 		topic := p.ctx.nsqd.GetTopic(topicName)
 		channel = topic.GetChannel(channelName)
+		if channel.Exiting() || topic.Exiting() {
+			time.Sleep(1 * time.Millisecond)
+			continue
+		}
 		if err := channel.AddClient(client.ID, client); err != nil {
 			return nil, protocol.NewFatalClientErr(nil, "E_TOO_MANY_CHANNEL_CONSUMERS",
 				fmt.Sprintf("channel consumers for %s:%s exceeds limit of %d",