diff --git a/src/msg/consumer/consumer.go b/src/msg/consumer/consumer.go
index 8703f0b6fa..b27dbc8b1b 100644
--- a/src/msg/consumer/consumer.go
+++ b/src/msg/consumer/consumer.go
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/msg/generated/proto/msgpb"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/msg/protocol/proto"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/x/clock"
@@ -188,9 +190,7 @@ func (c *consumer) tryAck(m msgpb.Metadata) {
 		c.Unlock()
 		return
 	}
-	if err := c.encodeAckWithLock(ackLen); err != nil {
-		c.conn.Close()
-	}
+	c.trySendAcksWithLock(ackLen)
 	c.Unlock()
 }
 
@@ -212,30 +212,42 @@ func (c *consumer) ackUntilClose() {
 func (c *consumer) tryAckAndFlush() {
 	c.Lock()
 	if ackLen := len(c.ackPb.Metadata); ackLen > 0 {
-		c.encodeAckWithLock(ackLen)
+		c.trySendAcksWithLock(ackLen)
 	}
 	c.w.Flush()
 	c.Unlock()
 }
 
-func (c *consumer) encodeAckWithLock(ackLen int) error {
+// if acks fail to send the client will retry sending the messages.
+func (c *consumer) trySendAcksWithLock(ackLen int) {
 	err := c.encoder.Encode(&c.ackPb)
+	log := c.opts.InstrumentOptions().Logger()
 	c.ackPb.Metadata = c.ackPb.Metadata[:0]
 	if err != nil {
 		c.m.ackEncodeError.Inc(1)
-		return err
+		log.Error("failed to encode ack. client will retry sending message.", zap.Error(err))
+		return
 	}
 	_, err = c.w.Write(c.encoder.Bytes())
 	if err != nil {
 		c.m.ackWriteError.Inc(1)
-		return err
+		log.Error("failed to write ack. client will retry sending message.", zap.Error(err))
+		c.tryCloseConn()
+		return
 	}
 	if err := c.w.Flush(); err != nil {
 		c.m.ackWriteError.Inc(1)
-		return err
+		log.Error("failed to flush ack. client will retry sending message.", zap.Error(err))
+		c.tryCloseConn()
+		return
 	}
 	c.m.ackSent.Inc(int64(ackLen))
-	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *consumer) tryCloseConn() {
+	if err := c.conn.Close(); err != nil {
+		c.opts.InstrumentOptions().Logger().Error("failed to close connection.", zap.Error(err))
+	}
 }
 
 func (c *consumer) Close() {
diff --git a/src/msg/consumer/consumer_test.go b/src/msg/consumer/consumer_test.go
index 5889fb3609..c3cc4253fd 100644
--- a/src/msg/consumer/consumer_test.go
+++ b/src/msg/consumer/consumer_test.go
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func TestConsumerAckReusedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, testMsg2.Metadata, cc.ackPb.Metadata[1])
 }
 
-func TestConsumerAckError(t *testing.T) {
+func TestConsumerWriteAckError(t *testing.T) {
 	defer leaktest.Check(t)()
 
 	opts := testOptions()
@@ -169,13 +169,62 @@ func TestConsumerAckError(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, testMsg1.Value, m.Bytes())
 
-	mockEncoder.EXPECT().Encode(gomock.Any()).Return(errors.New("mock encode err"))
+	mockEncoder.EXPECT().Encode(gomock.Any())
+	mockEncoder.EXPECT().Bytes().Return([]byte("foo"))
+	// force a bad write
+	cc.w.Reset(&badWriter{})
 	m.Ack()
 
+	// connection can no longer be used.
 	_, err = cc.Message()
 	require.Error(t, err)
 }
 
+type badWriter struct{}
+
+func (w *badWriter) Write([]byte) (int, error) {
+	return 0, errors.New("fail")
+}
+
+func TestConsumerDecodeAckError(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.Check(t)()
+
+	opts := testOptions()
+	l, err := NewListener("127.0.0.1:0", opts)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() {
+		require.NoError(t, l.Close())
+	}()
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	defer ctrl.Finish()
+
+	conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", l.Addr().String())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	c, err := l.Accept()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	mockEncoder := proto.NewMockEncoder(ctrl)
+	cc := c.(*consumer)
+	cc.encoder = mockEncoder
+
+	err = produce(conn, &testMsg1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	m, err := cc.Message()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, testMsg1.Value, m.Bytes())
+
+	mockEncoder.EXPECT().Encode(gomock.Any())
+	mockEncoder.EXPECT().Bytes()
+	m.Ack()
+
+	// can still use the connection after failing to decode an ack.
+	err = produce(conn, &testMsg1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
 func TestConsumerMessageError(t *testing.T) {
 	defer leaktest.Check(t)()