diff --git a/backend/sftp/sftp.go b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
index 4f063c75b..af2d0abbe 100644
--- a/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ type Fs struct {
 	drain        *time.Timer // used to drain the pool when we stop using the connections
 	pacer        *fs.Pacer   // pacer for operations
 	savedpswd    string
-	transfers    int32 // count in use references
+	sessions     int32 // count in use sessions
 }
 
 // Object is a remote SFTP file that has been stat'd (so it exists, but is not necessarily open for reading)
@@ -363,21 +363,21 @@ func (c *conn) closed() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Show that we are doing an upload or download
+// Show that we are using an ssh session
 //
-// Call removeTransfer() when done
-func (f *Fs) addTransfer() {
-	atomic.AddInt32(&f.transfers, 1)
+// Call removeSession() when done
+func (f *Fs) addSession() {
+	atomic.AddInt32(&f.sessions, 1)
 }
 
-// Show the upload or download done
-func (f *Fs) removeTransfer() {
-	atomic.AddInt32(&f.transfers, -1)
+// Show the ssh session is no longer in use
+func (f *Fs) removeSession() {
+	atomic.AddInt32(&f.sessions, -1)
 }
 
-// getTransfers shows whether there are any transfers in progress
-func (f *Fs) getTransfers() int32 {
-	return atomic.LoadInt32(&f.transfers)
+// getSessions shows whether there are any sessions in use
+func (f *Fs) getSessions() int32 {
+	return atomic.LoadInt32(&f.sessions)
 }
 
 // Open a new connection to the SFTP server.
@@ -506,8 +506,8 @@ func (f *Fs) putSftpConnection(pc **conn, err error) {
 func (f *Fs) drainPool(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	f.poolMu.Lock()
 	defer f.poolMu.Unlock()
-	if transfers := f.getTransfers(); transfers != 0 {
-		fs.Debugf(f, "Not closing %d unused connections as %d transfers in progress", len(f.pool), transfers)
+	if sessions := f.getSessions(); sessions != 0 {
+		fs.Debugf(f, "Not closing %d unused connections as %d sessions active", len(f.pool), sessions)
 		if f.opt.IdleTimeout > 0 {
 			f.drain.Reset(time.Duration(f.opt.IdleTimeout)) // nudge on the pool emptying timer
 		}
@@ -1093,6 +1093,9 @@ func (f *Fs) DirMove(ctx context.Context, src fs.Fs, srcRemote, dstRemote string
 
 // run runds cmd on the remote end returning standard output
 func (f *Fs) run(ctx context.Context, cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+	f.addSession() // Show session in use
+	defer f.removeSession()
+
 	c, err := f.getSftpConnection(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "run: get SFTP connection")
@@ -1231,6 +1234,8 @@ func (o *Object) Remote() string {
 // Hash returns the selected checksum of the file
 // If no checksum is available it returns ""
 func (o *Object) Hash(ctx context.Context, r hash.Type) (string, error) {
+	o.fs.addSession() // Show session in use
+	defer o.fs.removeSession()
 	if o.fs.opt.DisableHashCheck {
 		return "", nil
 	}
@@ -1434,7 +1439,7 @@ func (f *Fs) newObjectReader(sftpFile *sftp.File) *objectReader {
 		done:       make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 	// Show connection in use
-	f.addTransfer()
+	f.addSession()
 
 	go func() {
 		// Use sftpFile.WriteTo to pump data so that it gets a
@@ -1465,7 +1470,7 @@ func (file *objectReader) Close() (err error) {
 	// Wait for the background process to finish
 	<-file.done
 	// Show connection no longer in use
-	file.f.removeTransfer()
+	file.f.removeSession()
 	return err
 }
 
@@ -1518,8 +1523,8 @@ func (sr *sizeReader) Size() int64 {
 
 // Update a remote sftp file using the data <in> and ModTime from <src>
 func (o *Object) Update(ctx context.Context, in io.Reader, src fs.ObjectInfo, options ...fs.OpenOption) error {
-	o.fs.addTransfer() // Show transfer in progress
-	defer o.fs.removeTransfer()
+	o.fs.addSession() // Show session in use
+	defer o.fs.removeSession()
 	// Clear the hash cache since we are about to update the object
 	o.md5sum = nil
 	o.sha1sum = nil