Index: mythcorecontext.cpp
===================================================================
--- mythcorecontext.cpp	(revision 26907)
+++ mythcorecontext.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -269,10 +269,10 @@
     if (!d->m_serverSock)
         return false;
 
-    if (!d->m_eventSock)
+    if (!IsBackend() && !d->m_eventSock)
         d->m_eventSock = ConnectEventSocket(server, port);
 
-    if (!d->m_eventSock)
+    if (!IsBackend() && !d->m_eventSock)
     {
         d->m_serverSock->DownRef();
         d->m_serverSock = NULL;
@@ -793,8 +793,11 @@
             d->m_serverSock->DownRef();
             d->m_serverSock = NULL;
 
-            d->m_eventSock->DownRef();
-            d->m_eventSock = NULL;
+            if (d->m_eventSock)
+            {
+                d->m_eventSock->DownRef();
+                d->m_eventSock = NULL;
+            }
 
             bool blockingClient = GetNumSetting("idleTimeoutSecs",0);
             ConnectToMasterServer(blockingClient);