diff --git a/shell.go b/shell.go
index 0c803a66e..9b122a0a7 100644
--- a/shell.go
+++ b/shell.go
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ func (s *Shell) FindProvs(ctx context.Context, cid string) (<-chan pstore.PeerIn
 	outchan := make(chan pstore.PeerInfo, 4)
 
 	go func() {
+		defer close(outchan)
 		defer cancel()
 
 		var n notif.QueryEvent