diff --git a/pkg/kgo/consumer.go b/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
index 475270ed..ba781964 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
@@ -1667,6 +1667,15 @@ func (c *consumer) startNewSession(tps *topicsPartitions) *consumerSession {
 func (s *consumerSession) listOrEpoch(waiting listOrEpochLoads, immediate bool, why string) {
 	defer s.decWorker()
 
+	// It is possible for a metadata update to try to migrate partition
+	// loads if the update moves partitions between brokers. If we are
+	// closing the client, the consumer session could already be stopped,
+	// but this stops before the metadata goroutine is killed. So, if we
+	// are in this function but actually have no session, we return.
+	if s == noConsumerSession {
+		return
+	}
+
 	wait := true
 	if immediate {
 		s.c.cl.triggerUpdateMetadataNow(why)