diff --git a/pkg/kgo/broker.go b/pkg/kgo/broker.go
index 27b857b3..03d165d8 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/broker.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/broker.go
@@ -470,16 +470,14 @@ func (b *broker) reapConnections(idleTimeout time.Duration) (total int) {
 		}
 
 		// If our connection is a produce connection and our client is
-		// configured with acks == 0, we only reap it if we have read
-		// on it (via the discard goroutine). We are not supposed to
-		// have any reads when configured with no acks; if we do, the
-		// broker implemented the Kafka protocol incorrectly, but since
-		// are receiving reads, then we can reap.
-		lastReadNano := atomic.LoadInt64(&reap.cxn.lastRead)
-		if b.cl.cfg.acks.val == 0 && reap.isProduce && lastReadNano == 0 {
+		// configured with acks == 0, we never try reaping it due to no
+		// reads. We are not supposed to have any reads past the
+		// initial api version negotiation. If we do, the broker
+		// implemented the Kafka protocol incorrectly, but that's fine.
+		if b.cl.cfg.acks.val == 0 && reap.isProduce {
 			continue
 		}
-		lastRead := time.Unix(0, lastReadNano)
+		lastRead := time.Unix(0, atomic.LoadInt64(&reap.cxn.lastRead))
 		if time.Since(lastRead) > idleTimeout && atomic.LoadUint32(&reap.cxn.reading) == 0 {
 			reap.cxn.die()
 			total++