diff --git a/src/rt/rust_aio.cpp b/src/rt/rust_aio.cpp
index ed820b6ed31..3b2040476d0 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_aio.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_aio.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ struct socket_data : public task_owned<socket_data> {
   }
 
   void send_result(void *data) {
-    chan->send(&data);
+    chan->port->send(&data);
     chan->deref();
     chan = NULL;
   }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static void read_progress(uv_stream_t *socket, ssize_t nread, uv_buf_t buf) {
       v->fill = nread;
       break;
   }
-  data->reader->send(v);
+  data->reader->port->send(v);
 }
 
 static void new_connection(uv_stream_t *socket, int status) {
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ static void new_connection(uv_stream_t *socket, int status) {
     server->task->fail();
     return;
   }
-  server->chan->send(&client);
+  server->chan->port->send(&client);
 }
 
 extern "C" CDECL socket_data *aio_serve(const char *ip, int port,
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ static void free_socket(uv_handle_t *handle) {
     bool closed = true;
     I(data->task->sched, data->chan != NULL);
     data->task->kill();
-    data->chan->send(&closed);
+    data->chan->port->send(&closed);
   }
   delete data;
 }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ extern "C" CDECL void aio_close_server(socket_data *server,
   // XXX: hax until rust_task::kill
   // send null and the receiver knows to call back into native code to check
   void* null_client = NULL;
-  server->chan->send(&null_client);
+  server->chan->port->send(&null_client);
   server->chan->deref();
   server->chan = chan->clone(iotask);
   aio_close_socket(server);
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp b/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
index cfe3edcd24c..4086e3708fd 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ chan_id_send(type_desc *t, rust_task_id target_task_id,
     if(target_task) {
         rust_port *port = target_task->get_port_by_id(target_port_id);
         if(port) {
-            port->remote_chan->send(sptr);
+            port->send(sptr);
         }
         target_task->deref();
     }
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_chan.cpp b/src/rt/rust_chan.cpp
index de26feac020..9a41dacc323 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_chan.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_chan.cpp
@@ -36,32 +36,6 @@ bool rust_chan::is_associated() {
     return port != NULL;
 }
 
-/**
- * Attempt to send data to the associated port.
- */
-void rust_chan::send(void *sptr) {
-    if (!is_associated()) {
-        W(kernel, is_associated(),
-          "rust_chan::transmit with no associated port.");
-        return;
-    }
-
-    I(kernel, port != NULL);
-    scoped_lock with(port->lock);
-
-    buffer.enqueue(sptr);
-
-    A(kernel, !buffer.is_empty(),
-      "rust_chan::transmit with nothing to send.");
-
-    if (port->task->blocked_on(port)) {
-        KLOG(kernel, comm, "dequeued in rendezvous_ptr");
-        buffer.dequeue(port->task->rendezvous_ptr);
-        port->task->rendezvous_ptr = 0;
-        port->task->wakeup(port);
-    }
-}
-
 rust_chan *rust_chan::clone(rust_task *target) {
     return new (target->kernel, "cloned chan")
         rust_chan(kernel, port, buffer.unit_sz);
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_chan.h b/src/rt/rust_chan.h
index 0736012e63c..4fb78e062c7 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_chan.h
+++ b/src/rt/rust_chan.h
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ public:
 
     bool is_associated();
 
-    void send(void *sptr);
-
     rust_chan *clone(rust_task *target);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_port.cpp b/src/rt/rust_port.cpp
index 7fb24dfccbc..a68b4417110 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_port.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_port.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,28 @@ rust_port::~rust_port() {
     task->release_port(id);
 }
 
+void rust_port::send(void *sptr) {
+    if (!remote_chan->is_associated()) {
+        W(kernel, remote_chan->is_associated(),
+          "rust_chan::transmit with no associated port.");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    scoped_lock with(lock);
+
+    remote_chan->buffer.enqueue(sptr);
+
+    A(kernel, !remote_chan->buffer.is_empty(),
+      "rust_chan::transmit with nothing to send.");
+
+    if (task->blocked_on(this)) {
+        KLOG(kernel, comm, "dequeued in rendezvous_ptr");
+        remote_chan->buffer.dequeue(task->rendezvous_ptr);
+        task->rendezvous_ptr = 0;
+        task->wakeup(this);
+    }
+}
+
 bool rust_port::receive(void *dptr) {
     if (remote_chan->buffer.is_empty() == false) {
         remote_chan->buffer.dequeue(dptr);
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_port.h b/src/rt/rust_port.h
index 57b7492f711..551ad2e89da 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_port.h
+++ b/src/rt/rust_port.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ public:
     rust_port(rust_task *task, size_t unit_sz);
     ~rust_port();
     void log_state();
+    void send(void *sptr);
     bool receive(void *dptr);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_task.cpp b/src/rt/rust_task.cpp
index 5043f9ec4b0..854c2c74462 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_task.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_task.cpp
@@ -133,8 +133,10 @@ rust_task::~rust_task()
             msg.id = user.id;
             msg.result = failed ? tr_failure : tr_success;
 
-            target->send(&msg);
-            target->deref();
+            if (target->is_associated()) {
+                target->port->send(&msg);
+                target->deref();
+            }
         }
     }