diff --git a/src/TinyMqtt.cpp b/src/TinyMqtt.cpp
index 83f112f..a356c04 100644
--- a/src/TinyMqtt.cpp
+++ b/src/TinyMqtt.cpp
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ MqttError MqttClient::publish(const Topic& topic, const char* payload, size_t pa
   {
     return local_broker->publish(this, topic, msg);
   }
-  else if (tcp_client)
+  else if (tcp_client and connected())
     return msg.sendTo(this);
   else
     return MqttNowhereToSend;