diff --git a/lib/nsq/connection.rb b/lib/nsq/connection.rb
index e142f6c..4d6e77f 100644
--- a/lib/nsq/connection.rb
+++ b/lib/nsq/connection.rb
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ def initialize(opts = {})
 
 
     def connected?
+      return @write_loop_thread.alive? && @connected if @write_loop_thread # for producers
       @connected
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/nsq/producer.rb b/lib/nsq/producer.rb
index fa3e471..823587e 100644
--- a/lib/nsq/producer.rb
+++ b/lib/nsq/producer.rb
@@ -11,22 +11,24 @@ def initialize(opts = {})
       @ssl_context = opts[:ssl_context]
       @tls_options = opts[:tls_options]
       @tls_v1 = opts[:tls_v1]
+      @mx = Mutex.new
 
-      nsqlookupds = []
+      @nsqlookupds = []
       if opts[:nsqlookupd]
-        nsqlookupds = [opts[:nsqlookupd]].flatten
+        @nsqlookupds = [opts[:nsqlookupd]].flatten
         discover_repeatedly(
-          nsqlookupds: nsqlookupds,
+          nsqlookupds: @nsqlookupds,
           interval: @discovery_interval
         )
 
       elsif opts[:nsqd]
-        nsqds = [opts[:nsqd]].flatten
-        nsqds.each{|d| add_connection(d)}
+        @nsqds = [opts[:nsqd]].flatten
+        @nsqds.each{|d| add_connection(d)}
 
       else
         add_connection('127.0.0.1:4150')
       end
+      update_fork_pid
     end
 
     def write(*raw_messages)
@@ -75,8 +77,35 @@ def deferred_write_to_topic(topic, delay, *raw_messages)
       end
     end
 
+    def reconnect_on_fork
+      if @nsqlookupds.any?
+        if @discovery_thread && !@discovery_thread.alive?
+          @mx.synchronize do
+            break if @discovery_thread.alive?
+            debug "Discovery thread is dead; terminating connections and restarting discovery loop"
+            terminate
+            discover_repeatedly(
+              nsqlookupds: @nsqlookupds,
+              interval: @discovery_interval
+            )
+            update_fork_pid
+          end
+        end
+      elsif forked?
+        @mx.synchronize do
+          break unless forked?
+          debug "Fork detected - recreating connections"
+          terminate
+          @nsqds.each{|d| add_connection(d)}
+          update_fork_pid
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     private
     def connection_for_write
+      reconnect_on_fork
+
       # Choose a random Connection that's currently connected
       # Or, if there's nothing connected, just take any random one
       connections_currently_connected = connections.select{|_,c| c.connected?}
@@ -90,5 +119,12 @@ def connection_for_write
       connection
     end
 
+    def forked?
+      Process.pid != @fork_pid
+    end
+
+    def update_fork_pid
+      @fork_pid = Process.pid
+    end
   end
 end