diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index 3188d9330..20c1c50f2 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ void RemoteStore::setOptions(Connection & conn)
 RemoteStore::ConnectionHandle::~ConnectionHandle()
 {
     if (!daemonException && std::uncaught_exceptions()) {
+        handle.markBad();
         debug("closing daemon connection because of an exception");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/pool.hh b/src/libutil/pool.hh
index 2f6d30130..b7a749e3a 100644
--- a/src/libutil/pool.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/pool.hh
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ public:
     private:
         Pool & pool;
         std::shared_ptr<R> r;
+        bool bad = false;
 
         friend Pool;
 
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ public:
             if (!r) return;
             {
                 auto state_(pool.state.lock());
-                if (!std::uncaught_exceptions())
+                if (!bad && !std::uncaught_exceptions())
                     state_->idle.push_back(ref<R>(r));
                 assert(state_->inUse);
                 state_->inUse--;
@@ -128,6 +129,8 @@ public:
 
         R * operator -> () { return &*r; }
         R & operator * () { return *r; }
+
+        void markBad() { bad = true; }
     };
 
     Handle get()