diff --git a/router/gossip.go b/router/gossip.go
index 684bb21d..e119e661 100644
--- a/router/gossip.go
+++ b/router/gossip.go
@@ -63,7 +63,14 @@ func (sender *GossipSender) run() {
 			}
 			sender.send(pending)
 		case ch := <-sender.flushch:
-			sender.flush()
+			// ensure anything pending is sent, then close the channel we were given
+			select {
+			case pending := <-sender.cell:
+				if pending != nil {
+					sender.send(pending)
+				}
+			default:
+			}
 			close(ch)
 		}
 	}
@@ -341,14 +348,3 @@ func (router *Router) sendPendingGossip() {
 		<-ch
 	}
 }
-
-func (sender *GossipSender) flush() {
-	for {
-		select {
-		case pending := <-sender.cell:
-			sender.send(pending)
-		default:
-			return
-		}
-	}
-}