diff --git a/lib/rpcenc/reader.go b/lib/rpcenc/reader.go
index 8bd512705..23944af6c 100644
--- a/lib/rpcenc/reader.go
+++ b/lib/rpcenc/reader.go
@@ -78,27 +78,38 @@ func ReaderParamEncoder(addr string) jsonrpc.Option {
 	})
 }
 
-type waitReadCloser struct {
+// watchReadCloser watches the ReadCloser and closes the watch channel when
+// either: (1) the ReaderCloser fails on Read (including with a benign error
+// like EOF), or (2) when Close is called.
+//
+// Use it be notified of terminal states, in situations where a Read failure (or
+// EOF) is considered a terminal state too (besides Close).
+type watchReadCloser struct {
 	io.ReadCloser
-	wait chan struct{}
+	watch     chan struct{}
+	closeOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (w *waitReadCloser) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+func (w *watchReadCloser) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	n, err := w.ReadCloser.Read(p)
 	if err != nil {
-		close(w.wait)
+		w.closeOnce.Do(func() {
+			close(w.watch)
+		})
 	}
 	return n, err
 }
 
-func (w *waitReadCloser) Close() error {
-	close(w.wait)
+func (w *watchReadCloser) Close() error {
+	w.closeOnce.Do(func() {
+		close(w.watch)
+	})
 	return w.ReadCloser.Close()
 }
 
 func ReaderParamDecoder() (http.HandlerFunc, jsonrpc.ServerOption) {
 	var readersLk sync.Mutex
-	readers := map[uuid.UUID]chan *waitReadCloser{}
+	readers := map[uuid.UUID]chan *watchReadCloser{}
 
 	hnd := func(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		strId := path.Base(req.URL.Path)
@@ -111,14 +122,14 @@ func ReaderParamDecoder() (http.HandlerFunc, jsonrpc.ServerOption) {
 		readersLk.Lock()
 		ch, found := readers[u]
 		if !found {
-			ch = make(chan *waitReadCloser)
+			ch = make(chan *watchReadCloser)
 			readers[u] = ch
 		}
 		readersLk.Unlock()
 
-		wr := &waitReadCloser{
+		wr := &watchReadCloser{
 			ReadCloser: req.Body,
-			wait:       make(chan struct{}),
+			watch:      make(chan struct{}),
 		}
 
 		tctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(req.Context(), Timeout)
@@ -134,7 +145,9 @@ func ReaderParamDecoder() (http.HandlerFunc, jsonrpc.ServerOption) {
 		}
 
 		select {
-		case <-wr.wait:
+		case <-wr.watch:
+			// TODO should we check if we failed the Read, and if so
+			//  return an HTTP 500? i.e. turn watch into a chan error?
 		case <-req.Context().Done():
 			log.Errorf("context error in reader stream handler (2): %v", req.Context().Err())
 			resp.WriteHeader(500)
@@ -167,7 +180,7 @@ func ReaderParamDecoder() (http.HandlerFunc, jsonrpc.ServerOption) {
 		readersLk.Lock()
 		ch, found := readers[u]
 		if !found {
-			ch = make(chan *waitReadCloser)
+			ch = make(chan *watchReadCloser)
 			readers[u] = ch
 		}
 		readersLk.Unlock()