diff --git a/vfs/read_write.go b/vfs/read_write.go
index fcaf65569..68c2ae569 100644
--- a/vfs/read_write.go
+++ b/vfs/read_write.go
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ func (fh *RWFileHandle) close() (err error) {
 	fh.closed = true
 	rdwrMode := fh.flags & accessModeMask
 	if rdwrMode != os.O_RDONLY {
-		fh.file.delWriter(fh)
+		// leave writer open until file is transferred
+		defer fh.file.delWriter(fh)
 	}
 	if !fh.opened {
 		// If read only then return
diff --git a/vfs/write.go b/vfs/write.go
index ce9d6b914..3c107f486 100644
--- a/vfs/write.go
+++ b/vfs/write.go
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ func (fh *WriteFileHandle) close() error {
 		return ECLOSED
 	}
 	fh.closed = true
-	fh.file.delWriter(fh)
+	// leave writer open until file is transferred
+	defer fh.file.delWriter(fh)
 	writeCloseErr := fh.pipeWriter.Close()
 	err := <-fh.result
 	if err == nil {