diff --git a/cadc-util/build.gradle b/cadc-util/build.gradle
index c79d4361..89d18599 100644
--- a/cadc-util/build.gradle
+++ b/cadc-util/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ sourceCompatibility = 1.8
 
 group = 'org.opencadc'
 
-version = '1.5.9'
+version = '1.5.10'
 
 description = 'OpenCADC core utility library'
 def git_url = 'https://github.com/opencadc/core'
diff --git a/cadc-util/src/main/java/ca/nrc/cadc/io/MultiBufferIO.java b/cadc-util/src/main/java/ca/nrc/cadc/io/MultiBufferIO.java
index 5388eebd..930be3c2 100644
--- a/cadc-util/src/main/java/ca/nrc/cadc/io/MultiBufferIO.java
+++ b/cadc-util/src/main/java/ca/nrc/cadc/io/MultiBufferIO.java
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
 
 package ca.nrc.cadc.io;
 
-import ca.nrc.cadc.thread.ConditionVar;
 import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
 import java.util.concurrent.BlockingQueue;
@@ -131,22 +130,36 @@ public void copy(InputStream input, OutputStream output) throws InterruptedExcep
         }
         
         Worker w = new Worker(output);
-        Thread writer = new Thread(w);
-        writer.start();
-        
-        Throwable readFail = doit(input, w);
-        log.debug("reader completed: " + readFail);
-        if (readFail != null) {
-            writer.interrupt();
-        }
-        writer.join();
-        log.debug("writer completed: " + w.fail);
-        
-        if (readFail != null) {
-            throw new ReadException(READ_FAIL, readFail);
-        }
-        if (w.fail != null) {
-            throw new WriteException(WRITE_FAIL, w.fail);
+        Thread writer = new Thread(w, MultiBufferIO.class.getSimpleName() + "-writer");
+        try {
+            writer.start();
+
+            Throwable readFail = doit(input, w);
+            log.debug("reader completed: " + readFail);
+            if (readFail != null) {
+                writer.interrupt();
+            }
+            writer.join();
+            log.debug("writer completed: " + w.fail);
+
+            if (readFail != null) {
+                throw new ReadException(READ_FAIL, readFail);
+            }
+            if (w.fail != null) {
+                throw new WriteException(WRITE_FAIL, w.fail);
+            }
+        } finally {
+            if (writer.isAlive()) {
+                try {
+                    log.error("BUG: " + writer.getName() + " still alive in finally - interrupting...");
+                    writer.interrupt();
+                    log.error("BUG: " + writer.getName() + " interrupted in finally - waiting...");
+                    writer.join();
+                    log.error("BUG: " + writer.getName() + " still alive in finally - finished");
+                } catch (Exception ex) {
+                    log.error("OOPS: failed to kill " + writer.getName(), ex);
+                }
+            }
         }
     }