diff --git a/ethermess-backend.c b/ethermess-backend.c
index a28677d..31ce771 100644
--- a/ethermess-backend.c
+++ b/ethermess-backend.c
@@ -389,6 +389,8 @@ void readallx(int fd, unsigned char *buf, size_t length) {
 		ssize_t res = read(fd, &buf[completed], length - completed);
 		if (res == -1) {
 			err(1, "read");
+		} else if (res == 0) {
+			errx(1, "Unexpected EOF");
 		}
 		completed += res;
 	}