diff --git a/iroh/src/magicsock.rs b/iroh/src/magicsock.rs
index 0bef9bd7b7b..3f849346bd9 100644
--- a/iroh/src/magicsock.rs
+++ b/iroh/src/magicsock.rs
@@ -539,12 +539,22 @@ impl MagicSock {
                     .as_ref()
                     .map(|err| err.kind() == io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock)
                     .unwrap_or_default();
+
                 let relay_pending = relay_error
                     .as_ref()
                     .map(|err| err.kind() == io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock)
                     .unwrap_or_default();
-                if udp_pending && relay_pending {
+
+                let would_block = match (&udp_addr, &relay_url) {
+                    (Some(_udp), Some(_relay)) => udp_pending && relay_pending,
+                    (Some(_udp), None) => udp_pending,
+                    (None, Some(_relay)) => relay_pending,
+                    (None, None) => false,
+                };
+
+                if would_block {
                     // Handle backpressure.
+                    inc!(MagicsockMetrics, send_would_block);
                     Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock, "pending"))
                 } else {
                     if relay_sent || udp_sent {
diff --git a/iroh/src/magicsock/metrics.rs b/iroh/src/magicsock/metrics.rs
index 90b5ae9d471..02a208c6de9 100644
--- a/iroh/src/magicsock/metrics.rs
+++ b/iroh/src/magicsock/metrics.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub struct Metrics {
     // Data packets (non-disco)
     pub send_data: Counter,
     pub send_data_network_down: Counter,
+    pub send_would_block: Counter,
     pub recv_data_relay: Counter,
     pub recv_data_ipv4: Counter,
     pub recv_data_ipv6: Counter,
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ impl Default for Metrics {
             // Data packets (non-disco)
             send_data: Counter::new("send_data"),
             send_data_network_down: Counter::new("send_data_network_down"),
+            send_would_block: Counter::new("send_data"),
             recv_data_relay: Counter::new("recv_data_relay"),
             recv_data_ipv4: Counter::new("recv_data_ipv4"),
             recv_data_ipv6: Counter::new("recv_data_ipv6"),