diff --git a/guix/ssh.scm b/guix/ssh.scm
index 25ec8295e8..104f4f52d6 100644
--- a/guix/ssh.scm
+++ b/guix/ssh.scm
@@ -297,9 +297,11 @@ Return the list of store items actually sent."
     (channel-send-eof port)
 
     ;; Wait for completion of the remote process and read the status sexp from
-    ;; PORT.
+    ;; PORT.  Wait for the exit status only when 'read' completed; otherwise,
+    ;; we might wait forever if the other end is stuck.
     (let* ((result (false-if-exception (read port)))
-           (status (zero? (channel-get-exit-status port))))
+           (status (and result
+                        (zero? (channel-get-exit-status port)))))
       (close-port port)
       (match result
         (('success . _)