diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index af86134..392c346 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function throwOnRelease () {
 
 function release (client, err) {
   client.release = throwOnRelease
-  if (err || this.ending) {
+  if (err || this.ending || client._do_not_return_) {
     this._remove(client)
     this._pulseQueue()
     return
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ class Pool extends EventEmitter {
         this.log('additional client error after disconnection due to error', err)
       })
       this._remove(client)
+      client._do_not_return_ = true;
       // TODO - document that once the pool emits an error
       // the client has already been closed & purged and is unusable
       this.emit('error', err, client)