diff --git a/build/opt.go b/build/opt.go
index fb8b5fe393d2..0121f1da4ad5 100644
--- a/build/opt.go
+++ b/build/opt.go
@@ -501,6 +501,9 @@ func toSolveOpt(ctx context.Context, np *noderesolver.ResolvedNode, multiDriver
 					}
 					defers = append(defers, func(error) {
 						cancel()
+						// Close waits for the "importing to docker" progress
+						// goroutine so it cannot Write after printer.Wait.
+						_ = w.Close()
 					})
 					so.Exports[i].Output = func(_ map[string]string) (io.WriteCloser, error) {
 						return w, nil
diff --git a/util/dockerutil/client.go b/util/dockerutil/client.go
index 68ff9a29c281..513a91d1dc5f 100644
--- a/util/dockerutil/client.go
+++ b/util/dockerutil/client.go
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ func (w *waitingWriter) Write(dt []byte) (int, error) {
 
 func (w *waitingWriter) Close() error {
 	err := w.PipeWriter.Close()
+	// If Write never ran, the loader goroutine was never started and
+	// done would otherwise block forever. Unblock that path here.
+	w.once.Do(func() {
+		close(w.done)
+	})
 	<-w.done
 	if err == nil {
 		w.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/util/dockerutil/client_test.go b/util/dockerutil/client_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c9fd827025a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/dockerutil/client_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package dockerutil
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestWaitingWriterCloseWithoutWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	pr, pw := io.Pipe()
+	defer pr.Close()
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	w := &waitingWriter{
+		PipeWriter: pw,
+		f: func() {
+			t.Error("loader should not start when Close runs before Write")
+		},
+		done: done,
+	}
+
+	errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		errCh <- w.Close()
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-errCh:
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Close hung when Write was never called")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWaitingWriterCloseWaitsForLoader(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	pr, pw := io.Pipe()
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	started := make(chan struct{})
+	w := &waitingWriter{
+		PipeWriter: pw,
+		f: func() {
+			close(started)
+			_, _ = io.Copy(io.Discard, pr)
+			time.Sleep(80 * time.Millisecond)
+			close(done)
+		},
+		done: done,
+	}
+
+	n, err := w.Write([]byte("layer"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 5, n)
+	<-started
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	require.NoError(t, w.Close())
+	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, time.Since(start), 60*time.Millisecond)
+}
diff --git a/util/progress/printer.go b/util/progress/printer.go
index dcc2294569c1..66fc13db8d0b 100644
--- a/util/progress/printer.go
+++ b/util/progress/printer.go
@@ -86,12 +86,25 @@ func (p *Printer) Resume() {
 }
 
 func (p *Printer) Write(s *client.SolveStatus) {
-	p.status <- s
+	if !p.sendStatus(s) {
+		return
+	}
 	if p.metrics != nil {
 		p.metrics.Write(s)
 	}
 }
 
+// sendStatus is a no-op if Wait already closed the status channel.
+func (p *Printer) sendStatus(s *client.SolveStatus) (sent bool) {
+	defer func() {
+		if recover() != nil {
+			sent = false
+		}
+	}()
+	p.status <- s
+	return true
+}
+
 func (p *Printer) Warnings() []client.VertexWarning {
 	return dedupWarnings(p.warnings)
 }
diff --git a/util/progress/printer_test.go b/util/progress/printer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..909fc03c4a22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/progress/printer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package progress
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/client"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestPrinterWriteAfterWait(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Printer{
+		status: make(chan *client.SolveStatus),
+		done:   make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	go func() {
+		for range p.status {
+		}
+		close(p.done)
+	}()
+
+	p.Write(&client.SolveStatus{})
+	require.NoError(t, p.Wait())
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		p.Write(&client.SolveStatus{})
+	})
+}
+
+func TestPrinterWriteRaceWait(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Printer{
+		status: make(chan *client.SolveStatus),
+		done:   make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	go func() {
+		for range p.status {
+		}
+		close(p.done)
+	}()
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < 32; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+				p.Write(&client.SolveStatus{})
+			})
+		}()
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Wait())
+	wg.Wait()
+}