diff --git a/src/bounded-response.js b/src/bounded-response.js
index 8ec30c99..2a7f3d03 100644
--- a/src/bounded-response.js
+++ b/src/bounded-response.js
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 // Read an HTTP response body with a hard byte cap, so a hostile or broken
 // server can't make the updater buffer an unbounded amount of memory.
+// Start a cancel without waiting for it or letting it replace the real error.
+function cancelQuietly(target) {
+  try { Promise.resolve(target?.cancel?.()).catch(() => {}); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+}
+
 export async function readBoundedBytes(response, limit, label = "response") {
   if (!Number.isSafeInteger(limit) || limit < 1) throw new TypeError("limit: expected a positive integer");
   const rawLength = response?.headers?.get?.("content-length");
@@ -8,7 +13,7 @@ export async function readBoundedBytes(response, limit, label = "response") {
   if (Number.isFinite(declared) && declared > limit) {
     // Release the connection instead of leaving the unread body open.
     // Not awaited: a stream whose cancel() never settles must not hold back the rejection.
-    Promise.resolve(body?.cancel?.()).catch(() => {});
+    cancelQuietly(body);
     throw new Error(`${label} is too large`);
   }
   if (body && typeof body.getReader === "function") {
@@ -24,7 +29,7 @@ export async function readBoundedBytes(response, limit, label = "response") {
         chunks.push(value);
       }
     } catch (error) {
-      await reader.cancel().catch(() => {});
+      cancelQuietly(reader);
       throw error;
     }
     const bytes = new Uint8Array(total);
diff --git a/test/bounded-response.test.js b/test/bounded-response.test.js
index 6ac6bb3d..6d18b6d3 100644
--- a/test/bounded-response.test.js
+++ b/test/bounded-response.test.js
@@ -79,3 +79,18 @@ test("a hanging body cancel does not delay the size rejection", async () => {
   ]);
   assert.equal(outcome, "Artwork is too large");
 });
+
+test("a throwing body cancel does not replace the size error", async () => {
+  const body = { cancel() { throw new Error("cancel exploded"); } };
+  const response = { headers: new Headers({ "content-length": "999999" }), body };
+  await assert.rejects(readBoundedBytes(response, 1000, "Artwork"), /Artwork is too large/);
+});
+
+test("a hanging reader cancel does not delay a mid-read overflow rejection", async () => {
+  const body = new ReadableStream({ pull(controller) { controller.enqueue(new Uint8Array(600)); }, cancel() { return new Promise(() => {}); } });
+  const outcome = await Promise.race([
+    readBoundedBytes(new Response(body), 1000, "Artwork").then(() => "resolved", (error) => error.message),
+    new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve("hung"), 500)),
+  ]);
+  assert.equal(outcome, "Artwork is too large");
+});