diff --git a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
index 3e569082..fb9f91bc 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
@@ -1159,6 +1159,7 @@ class XMLStream(object):
                 shutdown = True
             except SyntaxError as e:
                 log.error("Error reading from XML stream.")
+                shutdown = True
                 self.exception(e)
             except Socket.error as serr:
                 self.event('socket_error', serr)