diff --git a/library/ssl_tls.c b/library/ssl_tls.c
index ac82dfb..1d68d96 100644
--- a/library/ssl_tls.c
+++ b/library/ssl_tls.c
@@ -4357,9 +4357,10 @@
                     SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "ssl_start_renegotiation", ret );
                     return( ret );
                 }
-
-                return( POLARSSL_ERR_NET_WANT_READ );
             }
+
+            /* Tell the user to call ssl_read() again */
+            return( POLARSSL_ERR_NET_WANT_READ );
         }
         else if( ssl->renegotiation == SSL_RENEGOTIATION_PENDING )
         {
@@ -4373,7 +4374,15 @@
                 return( POLARSSL_ERR_SSL_UNEXPECTED_MESSAGE );
             }
         }
-        else if( ssl->in_msgtype != SSL_MSG_APPLICATION_DATA )
+
+        /* Fatal and closure alerts handled by ssl_read_record() */
+        if( ssl->in_msgtype == SSL_MSG_ALERT )
+        {
+            SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 2, ( "ignoring non-fatal non-closure alert" ) );
+            return( POLARSSL_ERR_NET_WANT_READ );
+        }
+
+        if( ssl->in_msgtype != SSL_MSG_APPLICATION_DATA )
         {
             SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "bad application data message" ) );
             return( POLARSSL_ERR_SSL_UNEXPECTED_MESSAGE );