diff --git a/io/channel-socket.c b/io/channel-socket.c
index 4466bb1cd4..74a936cc1f 100644
--- a/io/channel-socket.c
+++ b/io/channel-socket.c
@@ -716,12 +716,18 @@ static int qio_channel_socket_flush(QIOChannel *ioc,
     struct cmsghdr *cm;
     char control[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*serr))];
     int received;
-    int ret = 1;
+    int ret;
+
+    if (sioc->zero_copy_queued == sioc->zero_copy_sent) {
+        return 0;
+    }
 
     msg.msg_control = control;
     msg.msg_controllen = sizeof(control);
     memset(control, 0, sizeof(control));
 
+    ret = 1;
+
     while (sioc->zero_copy_sent < sioc->zero_copy_queued) {
         received = recvmsg(sioc->fd, &msg, MSG_ERRQUEUE);
         if (received < 0) {