diff --git a/artiq/protocols/broadcast.py b/artiq/protocols/broadcast.py
index 9cffc6b78..a517ebb86 100644
--- a/artiq/protocols/broadcast.py
+++ b/artiq/protocols/broadcast.py
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ _init_string = b"ARTIQ broadcast\n"
 
 
 class Receiver:
-    def __init__(self, name, notify_cb):
+    def __init__(self, name, notify_cb, disconnect_cb=None):
         self.name = name
         if not isinstance(notify_cb, list):
             notify_cb = [notify_cb]
         self.notify_cbs = notify_cb
+        self.disconnect_cb = disconnect_cb
 
     async def connect(self, host, port):
         self.reader, self.writer = \
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class Receiver:
             raise
 
     async def close(self):
+        self.disconnect_cb = None
         try:
             self.receive_task.cancel()
             try:
@@ -41,15 +43,19 @@ class Receiver:
             del self.writer
 
     async def _receive_cr(self):
-        target = None
-        while True:
-            line = await self.reader.readline()
-            if not line:
-                return
-            obj = pyon.decode(line.decode())
+        try:
+            target = None
+            while True:
+                line = await self.reader.readline()
+                if not line:
+                    return
+                obj = pyon.decode(line.decode())
 
-            for notify_cb in self.notify_cbs:
-                notify_cb(obj)
+                for notify_cb in self.notify_cbs:
+                    notify_cb(obj)
+        finally:
+            if self.disconnect_cb is not None:
+                self.disconnect_cb()
 
 
 class Broadcaster(AsyncioServer):
diff --git a/artiq/protocols/sync_struct.py b/artiq/protocols/sync_struct.py
index 59bced790..b6dfdac92 100644
--- a/artiq/protocols/sync_struct.py
+++ b/artiq/protocols/sync_struct.py
@@ -52,8 +52,10 @@ class Subscriber:
         from the publisher. The mod is passed as parameter. The function is
         called after the mod has been processed.
         A list of functions may also be used, and they will be called in turn.
+    :param disconnect_cb: An optional function called when disconnection happens
+        from external causes (i.e. not when ``close`` is called).
     """
-    def __init__(self, notifier_name, target_builder, notify_cb=None):
+    def __init__(self, notifier_name, target_builder, notify_cb=None, disconnect_cb=None):
         self.notifier_name = notifier_name
         self.target_builder = target_builder
         if notify_cb is None:
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ class Subscriber:
         if not isinstance(notify_cb, list):
             notify_cb = [notify_cb]
         self.notify_cbs = notify_cb
+        self.disconnect_cb = disconnect_cb
 
     async def connect(self, host, port, before_receive_cb=None):
         self.reader, self.writer = \
@@ -78,6 +81,7 @@ class Subscriber:
             raise
 
     async def close(self):
+        self.disconnect_cb = None
         try:
             self.receive_task.cancel()
             try:
@@ -90,20 +94,24 @@ class Subscriber:
             del self.writer
 
     async def _receive_cr(self):
-        target = None
-        while True:
-            line = await self.reader.readline()
-            if not line:
-                return
-            mod = pyon.decode(line.decode())
+        try:
+            target = None
+            while True:
+                line = await self.reader.readline()
+                if not line:
+                    return
+                mod = pyon.decode(line.decode())
 
-            if mod["action"] == "init":
-                target = self.target_builder(mod["struct"])
-            else:
-                process_mod(target, mod)
+                if mod["action"] == "init":
+                    target = self.target_builder(mod["struct"])
+                else:
+                    process_mod(target, mod)
 
-            for notify_cb in self.notify_cbs:
-                notify_cb(mod)
+                for notify_cb in self.notify_cbs:
+                    notify_cb(mod)
+        finally:
+            if self.disconnect_cb is not None:
+                self.disconnect_cb()
 
 
 class Notifier: