diff --git a/chainntnfs/btcdnotify/btcd.go b/chainntnfs/btcdnotify/btcd.go
index cdd1e778..c393300b 100644
--- a/chainntnfs/btcdnotify/btcd.go
+++ b/chainntnfs/btcdnotify/btcd.go
@@ -139,17 +139,24 @@ func (b *BtcdNotifier) Start() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// Start our concurrent queues before starting the chain connection, to
+	// ensure onBlockConnected and onRedeemingTx callbacks won't be
+	// blocked.
+	b.chainUpdates.Start()
+	b.txUpdates.Start()
+
 	// Connect to btcd, and register for notifications on connected, and
 	// disconnected blocks.
 	if err := b.chainConn.Connect(20); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := b.chainConn.NotifyBlocks(); err != nil {
+		b.txUpdates.Stop()
+		b.chainUpdates.Stop()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	currentHash, currentHeight, err := b.chainConn.GetBestBlock()
 	if err != nil {
+		b.txUpdates.Stop()
+		b.chainUpdates.Stop()
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -163,8 +170,11 @@ func (b *BtcdNotifier) Start() error {
 		Hash:   currentHash,
 	}
 
-	b.chainUpdates.Start()
-	b.txUpdates.Start()
+	if err := b.chainConn.NotifyBlocks(); err != nil {
+		b.txUpdates.Stop()
+		b.chainUpdates.Stop()
+		return err
+	}
 
 	b.wg.Add(1)
 	go b.notificationDispatcher()
@@ -208,10 +218,14 @@ func (b *BtcdNotifier) Stop() error {
 func (b *BtcdNotifier) onBlockConnected(hash *chainhash.Hash, height int32, t time.Time) {
 	// Append this new chain update to the end of the queue of new chain
 	// updates.
-	b.chainUpdates.ChanIn() <- &chainUpdate{
+	select {
+	case b.chainUpdates.ChanIn() <- &chainUpdate{
 		blockHash:   hash,
 		blockHeight: height,
 		connect:     true,
+	}:
+	case <-b.quit:
+		return
 	}
 }
 
@@ -236,10 +250,14 @@ type filteredBlock struct {
 func (b *BtcdNotifier) onBlockDisconnected(hash *chainhash.Hash, height int32, t time.Time) {
 	// Append this new chain update to the end of the queue of new chain
 	// updates.
-	b.chainUpdates.ChanIn() <- &chainUpdate{
+	select {
+	case b.chainUpdates.ChanIn() <- &chainUpdate{
 		blockHash:   hash,
 		blockHeight: height,
 		connect:     false,
+	}:
+	case <-b.quit:
+		return
 	}
 }
 
@@ -247,7 +265,11 @@ func (b *BtcdNotifier) onBlockDisconnected(hash *chainhash.Hash, height int32, t
 func (b *BtcdNotifier) onRedeemingTx(tx *btcutil.Tx, details *btcjson.BlockDetails) {
 	// Append this new transaction update to the end of the queue of new
 	// chain updates.
-	b.txUpdates.ChanIn() <- &txUpdate{tx, details}
+	select {
+	case b.txUpdates.ChanIn() <- &txUpdate{tx, details}:
+	case <-b.quit:
+		return
+	}
 }
 
 // notificationDispatcher is the primary goroutine which handles client