diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
index 2c9d50b8..7582284d 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ namespace ix
     WebSocket::WebSocket() :
         _onMessageCallback(OnMessageCallback()),
         _stop(false),
+        _blocking(true),
         _automaticReconnection(true),
         _handshakeTimeoutSecs(kDefaultHandShakeTimeoutSecs),
         _enablePong(kDefaultEnablePong),
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ namespace ix
     {
         if (_thread.joinable()) return; // we've already been started
 
+        _blocking = false;
         _thread = std::thread(&WebSocket::run, this);
     }
 
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ namespace ix
         _stop = true;
         _thread.join();
         _stop = false;
+        _blocking = true;
 
         _automaticReconnection = automaticReconnection;
     }
@@ -317,7 +320,8 @@ namespace ix
             // 4. In blocking mode, getting out of this function is triggered by
             //    an explicit disconnection from the callback, or by the remote end
             //    closing the connection, ie isConnected() == false.
-            if (!_thread.joinable() && !isConnected() && !_automaticReconnection) return;
+            //    closing the connection, ie isConnectedOrClosing() == false.
+            if (_blocking && !isConnectedOrClosing() && !_automaticReconnection) return;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
index 8c6bf702..a1fc86fa 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ namespace ix
         static OnTrafficTrackerCallback _onTrafficTrackerCallback;
 
         std::atomic<bool> _stop;
+        std::atomic<bool> _blocking;
         std::atomic<bool> _automaticReconnection;
         std::thread _thread;
         std::mutex _writeMutex;