diff --git a/pymysql/connections.py b/pymysql/connections.py
index 691665f..b8aaa53 100644
--- a/pymysql/connections.py
+++ b/pymysql/connections.py
@@ -244,9 +244,6 @@ class MysqlPacket(object):
         buff = b''
         while True:
             packet_header = connection._read_bytes(4)
-            if len(packet_header) < 4:
-                raise OperationalError(2013, "Lost connection to MySQL server during query")
-
             if DEBUG: dump_packet(packet_header)
             packet_length_bin = packet_header[:3]
 
@@ -256,8 +253,6 @@ class MysqlPacket(object):
             bin_length = packet_length_bin + b'\0'  # pad little-endian number
             bytes_to_read = struct.unpack('<I', bin_length)[0]
             recv_data = connection._read_bytes(bytes_to_read)
-            if len(recv_data) < bytes_to_read:
-                raise OperationalError(2013, "Lost connection to MySQL server during query")
             if DEBUG: dump_packet(recv_data)
             buff += recv_data
             if bytes_to_read < MAX_PACKET_LEN:
@@ -640,7 +635,7 @@ class Connection(object):
         send_data = struct.pack('<i', 1) + int2byte(COM_QUIT)
         try:
             self._write_bytes(send_data)
-        except IOError:
+        except Exception:
             pass
         finally:
             sock = self.socket
@@ -827,10 +822,21 @@ class Connection(object):
         return packet
 
     def _read_bytes(self, num_bytes):
-        return self._rfile.read(num_bytes)
+        try:
+            data = self._rfile.read(num_bytes)
+        except IOError as e:
+            raise OperationalError(2013,
+                    "Lost connection to MySQL server during query (%r)" % (e,))
+        if len(data) < num_bytes:
+            raise OperationalError(2013,
+                    "Lost connection to MySQL server during query")
+        return data
 
     def _write_bytes(self, data):
-        self.socket.sendall(data)
+        try:
+            self.socket.sendall(data)
+        except IOError as e:
+            raise OperationalError(2006, "MySQL server has gone away (%r)" % (e,))
 
     def _read_query_result(self, unbuffered=False):
         if unbuffered:
diff --git a/pymysql/err.py b/pymysql/err.py
index 84c2961..fa31cd0 100644
--- a/pymysql/err.py
+++ b/pymysql/err.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import struct
 
 from .constants import ER
-import sys
 
 class MySQLError(Exception):
     """Exception related to operation with MySQL."""
diff --git a/pymysql/tests/test_connection.py b/pymysql/tests/test_connection.py
index 2e78aa8..4c0af40 100644
--- a/pymysql/tests/test_connection.py
+++ b/pymysql/tests/test_connection.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pymysql
+import time
 from pymysql.tests import base
 
 
@@ -54,6 +55,21 @@ class TestConnection(base.PyMySQLTestCase):
         cur.execute('SELECT database()')
         self.assertEqual(cur.fetchone()[0], other_db)
 
+    def test_connection_gone_away(self):
+        """
+        http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/gone-away.html
+        http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/error-messages-client.html#error_cr_server_gone_error
+        """
+        con = self.connections[0]
+        cur = con.cursor()
+        cur.execute("SET wait_timeout=1")
+        time.sleep(2)
+        with self.assertRaises(pymysql.OperationalError) as cm:
+            cur.execute("SELECT 1+1")
+        # error occures while reading, not writing because of socket buffer.
+        #self.assertEquals(cm.exception.args[0], 2006)
+        self.assertIn(cm.exception.args[0], (2006, 2013))
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     try: