diff --git a/changes/bug8185_025 b/changes/bug8185_025
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1bfc12b1e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug8185_025
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (logging, relay shutdown, annoyance):
+    - When a circuit is marked for close, do not attempt to package any cells
+      for channels on that circuit. Previously, we would detect this
+      condition lower in the call stack, when we noticed that the circuit had
+      no attached channel, and log an annoying message. Fixes bug 8185;
+      bugfix on 0.2.5.4-alpha.
diff --git a/src/or/relay.c b/src/or/relay.c
index cb1a0692b6..81942af1e8 100644
--- a/src/or/relay.c
+++ b/src/or/relay.c
@@ -506,6 +506,11 @@ circuit_package_relay_cell(cell_t *cell, circuit_t *circ,
 {
   channel_t *chan; /* where to send the cell */
 
+  if (circ->marked_for_close) {
+    /* Circuit is marked; send nothing. */
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   if (cell_direction == CELL_DIRECTION_OUT) {
     crypt_path_t *thishop; /* counter for repeated crypts */
     chan = circ->n_chan;
@@ -824,6 +829,12 @@ connection_edge_send_command(edge_connection_t *fromconn,
     return -1;
   }
 
+  if (circ->marked_for_close) {
+    /* The circuit has been marked, but not freed yet. When it's freed, it
+     * will mark this connection for close. */
+    return -1;
+  }
+
 #ifdef MEASUREMENTS_21206
   /* Keep track of the number of RELAY_DATA cells sent for directory
    * connections. */