diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.java
index e0b586786..1c0bd54cf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ public final class ArcusKetamaNodeLocator extends SpyObject implements NodeLocat
 
   private final TreeMap<Long, SortedSet<MemcachedNode>> ketamaNodes;
   private final Collection<MemcachedNode> allNodes;
+  private final Collection<MemcachedNode> delayedClosingNodes = new HashSet<>();
 
   /* ENABLE_MIGRATION if */
   private TreeMap<Long, SortedSet<MemcachedNode>> ketamaAlterNodes;
@@ -238,6 +239,10 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
       for (MemcachedNode node : toDelete) {
         allNodes.remove(node);
         removeHash(node);
+        if (node.hasOp() && node.isActive()) {
+          delayedClosingNodes.add(node);
+          continue;
+        }
         try {
           node.closeChannel();
         } catch (IOException e) {
@@ -256,6 +261,14 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
     }
   }
 
+  public Collection<MemcachedNode> getDelayedClosingNodes() {
+    return Collections.unmodifiableCollection(delayedClosingNodes);
+  }
+
+  public void updateDelayedClosingNodes(Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes) {
+    delayedClosingNodes.removeAll(closedNodes);
+  }
+
   private Long getKetamaHashPoint(byte[] digest, int h) {
     return ((long) (digest[3 + h * 4] & 0xFF) << 24)
          | ((long) (digest[2 + h * 4] & 0xFF) << 16)
@@ -452,6 +465,10 @@ public void updateAlter(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
       for (MemcachedNode node : toDelete) {
         alterNodes.remove(node);
         removeHashOfAlter(node);
+        if (node.hasOp() && node.isActive()) {
+          delayedClosingNodes.add(node);
+          continue;
+        }
         try {
           node.closeChannel();
         } catch (IOException e) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator.java
index 8307d7299..4447489d8 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator.java
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ public final class ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator extends SpyObject implements NodeL
   private final TreeMap<Long, SortedSet<MemcachedReplicaGroup>> ketamaGroups;
   private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, MemcachedReplicaGroup> allGroups;
   private final Collection<MemcachedNode> allNodes;
+  private final Collection<MemcachedNode> delayedClosingNodes = new HashSet<>();
 
   /* ENABLE_MIGRATION if */
   private TreeMap<Long, SortedSet<MemcachedReplicaGroup>> ketamaAlterGroups;
@@ -263,6 +264,10 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
       for (MemcachedNode node : toDelete) {
         allNodes.remove(node);
         removeNodeFromGroup(node);
+        if (node.hasOp() && node.isActive()) {
+          delayedClosingNodes.add(node);
+          continue;
+        }
         try {
           node.closeChannel();
         } catch (IOException e) {
@@ -299,6 +304,14 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
     }
   }
 
+  public Collection<MemcachedNode> getDelayedClosingNodes() {
+    return Collections.unmodifiableCollection(delayedClosingNodes);
+  }
+
+  public void updateDelayedClosingNodes(Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes) {
+    delayedClosingNodes.removeAll(closedNodes);
+  }
+
   public void switchoverReplGroup(MemcachedReplicaGroup group) {
     lock.lock();
     group.changeRole();
@@ -590,6 +603,10 @@ public void updateAlter(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach,
             removeHashOfAlter(mrg);
           }
         }
+        if (node.hasOp() && node.isActive()) {
+          delayedClosingNodes.add(node);
+          continue;
+        }
         try {
           node.closeChannel();
         } catch (IOException e) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArrayModNodeLocator.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArrayModNodeLocator.java
index 1f21e201d..85b4d94da 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArrayModNodeLocator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/ArrayModNodeLocator.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -76,6 +77,14 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach, Collection<MemcachedNode>
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("update not supported");
   }
 
+  public Collection<MemcachedNode> getDelayedClosingNodes() {
+    return new HashSet<MemcachedNode>();
+  }
+
+  public void updateDelayedClosingNodes(Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes) {
+    // do NOT throw UnsupportedOperationException here for test codes.
+  }
+
   /* ENABLE_MIGRATION if */
   public Collection<MemcachedNode> getAlterAll() {
     return new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/KetamaNodeLocator.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/KetamaNodeLocator.java
index d0428e70d..524352e3b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/KetamaNodeLocator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/KetamaNodeLocator.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -144,6 +145,14 @@ public void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach, Collection<MemcachedNode>
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("update not supported");
   }
 
+  public Collection<MemcachedNode> getDelayedClosingNodes() {
+    return new HashSet<MemcachedNode>();
+  }
+
+  public void updateDelayedClosingNodes(Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes) {
+    // do NOT throw UnsupportedOperationException here for test codes.
+  }
+
   public SortedMap<Long, MemcachedNode> getKetamaNodes() {
     return Collections.unmodifiableSortedMap(ketamaNodes);
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
index e7bc9e544..17cb43757 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
@@ -297,6 +297,9 @@ public void handleIO() throws IOException {
       }
     }
 
+    // Deal with the memcached nodes that removed from ZK but has operation in queue.
+    handleDelayedClosingNodes();
+
     // Deal with the memcached server group that's been added by CacheManager.
     handleCacheNodesChange();
 
@@ -323,12 +326,18 @@ private void handleNodesToRemove(final List<MemcachedNode> nodesToRemove) {
       }
       /* ENABLE_MIGRATION end */
 
+      if (node.isActive()) {
+        // if a memcached node is removed from ZK but can still serve operations, do NOT cancel it.
+        // operations that remain in operation queue will be processed until connection is lost.
+        // once all remaining operations are processed, client will close connection.
+        // if connection is lost before remaining operations are processed,
+        // all of them will be canceled after connection is lost.
+        continue;
+      }
+
       // removing node is not related to failure mode.
       // so, cancel operations regardless of failure mode.
-      String cause = "node removed.";
-      cancelOperations(node.destroyReadQueue(false), cause);
-      cancelOperations(node.destroyWriteQueue(false), cause);
-      cancelOperations(node.destroyInputQueue(), cause);
+      cancelAllOperations(node, "node removed.");
     }
   }
 
@@ -706,6 +715,39 @@ public void complete() {
     getLogger().debug("Added %s to writeQ of %s", op, node);
   }
 
+  // Handle the memcached nodes that removed from ZK but has operation in queue.
+  void handleDelayedClosingNodes() {
+    Collection<MemcachedNode> closingNodes = locator.getDelayedClosingNodes();
+    if (closingNodes.isEmpty()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes = new HashSet<>();
+    for (MemcachedNode node : closingNodes) {
+      boolean isConnected = node.isConnected();
+      boolean hasOp = node.hasOp();
+
+      if (isConnected && !hasOp) {
+        try {
+          node.closeChannel();
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+          getLogger().error("Failed to closeChannel the node : " + node);
+        }
+      } else if (!isConnected && hasOp) {
+        cancelAllOperations(node, "connection lost after node removed.");
+      } else {
+        addedQueue.offer(node);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      closedNodes.add(node);
+    }
+
+    if (!closedNodes.isEmpty()) {
+      locator.updateDelayedClosingNodes(closedNodes);
+    }
+  }
+
   // Handle the memcached server group that's been added by CacheManager.
   void handleCacheNodesChange() throws IOException {
     /* ENABLE_MIGRATION if */
@@ -1279,6 +1321,12 @@ private void cancelOperations(Collection<Operation> ops, String cause) {
     }
   }
 
+  private void cancelAllOperations(MemcachedNode node, String cause) {
+    cancelOperations(node.destroyReadQueue(false), cause);
+    cancelOperations(node.destroyWriteQueue(false), cause);
+    cancelOperations(node.destroyInputQueue(), cause);
+  }
+
   private void redistributeOperations(Collection<Operation> ops, String cause) {
     for (Operation op : ops) {
       if (op instanceof KeyedOperation) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNode.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNode.java
index 97d39634e..4a0ad45fb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNode.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNode.java
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@ public interface MemcachedNode {
    */
   boolean hasWriteOp();
 
+  /**
+   * True if any operation is in operation queue.
+   */
+  boolean hasOp();
+
   /**
    * Add an operation to the queue.  Authentication operations should
    * never be added to the queue, but this is not checked.
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImpl.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImpl.java
index 528308036..d16546fc7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImpl.java
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ public boolean isConnected() {
     return root.isConnected();
   }
 
+  public boolean hasOp() {
+    return root.hasOp();
+  }
+
   public boolean isActive() {
     return root.isActive();
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/NodeLocator.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/NodeLocator.java
index 6cd4f97de..33ad67919 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/NodeLocator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/NodeLocator.java
@@ -58,6 +58,18 @@ public interface NodeLocator {
    */
   void update(Collection<MemcachedNode> toAttach, Collection<MemcachedNode> toDelete);
 
+  /**
+   * Get all memcached nodes that removed from ZK but has operation in queue.
+   * Note that this feature is only available in ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.
+   */
+  Collection<MemcachedNode> getDelayedClosingNodes();
+
+  /**
+   * Update all memcached nodes that removed from ZK but has operation in queue.
+   * Note that this feature is only available in ArcusKetamaNodeLocator.
+   */
+  void updateDelayedClosingNodes(Collection<MemcachedNode> closedNodes);
+
   /* ENABLE_MIGRATION if */
   /**
    * Get all alter memcached nodes.
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/TCPMemcachedNodeImpl.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/TCPMemcachedNodeImpl.java
index 681507fec..632e2cdfe 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/TCPMemcachedNodeImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/TCPMemcachedNodeImpl.java
@@ -292,6 +292,10 @@ public final boolean hasWriteOp() {
     return !(optimizedOp == null && writeQ.isEmpty());
   }
 
+  public final boolean hasOp() {
+    return hasReadOp() || hasWriteOp() || !inputQueue.isEmpty();
+  }
+
   public final void addOpToInputQ(Operation op) {
     op.setHandlingNode(this);
     op.initialize();
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImplTest.java b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImplTest.java
index fc84c541b..45e7a1c72 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImplTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedNodeROImplTest.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void testReadOnliness() throws Exception {
     Set<String> acceptable = new HashSet<>(Arrays.asList(
             "toString", "getSocketAddress", "getBytesRemainingToWrite",
             "getReconnectCount", "getSelectionOps", "getNodeName", "hasReadOp",
-            "hasWriteOp", "isActive", "isConnected"));
+            "hasWriteOp", "hasOp", "isActive", "isConnected"));
 
     for (Method meth : MemcachedNode.class.getMethods()) {
       if (acceptable.contains(meth.getName())) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MockMemcachedNode.java b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MockMemcachedNode.java
index afda4fdff..6f83c8afc 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MockMemcachedNode.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/MockMemcachedNode.java
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ public boolean hasWriteOp() {
     return false;
   }
 
+  public boolean hasOp() {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   public void addOpToInputQ(Operation op) {
     // noop
   }