diff --git a/src/core/worker.c b/src/core/worker.c
index 7276f27..b92002b 100644
--- a/src/core/worker.c
+++ b/src/core/worker.c
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ bool is_runner(void) {
     return is_current_process(g_current_proc);
 }
 
+bool is_single_mode(void) {
+    return g_current_proc == NULL;
+}
+
 static void close_process(void *ptr, CR_UNUSED void *meta) {
     struct worker *proc = ptr;
     sfree(proc->ctx.suite_stats);
diff --git a/src/core/worker.h b/src/core/worker.h
index 53edb46..0470ec3 100644
--- a/src/core/worker.h
+++ b/src/core/worker.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ void run_worker(struct worker_context *ctx);
 void set_runner_process(void);
 void unset_runner_process(void);
 bool is_runner(void);
+bool is_single_mode(void);
 struct process_status wait_proc(struct worker *proc);
 struct worker *spawn_test_worker(struct execution_context *ctx, cr_worker_func func);
 
diff --git a/src/protocol/connect.c b/src/protocol/connect.c
index 0a53f67..5f64e51 100644
--- a/src/protocol/connect.c
+++ b/src/protocol/connect.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "compat/process.h"
+#include "core/worker.h"
 
 #define URL "ipc://%scriterion_%llu.sock"
 
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ error: {}
 }
 
 int connect_client(void) {
+    if (is_single_mode())
+        return 0;
+
     int sock = nn_socket(AF_SP, NN_REQ);
     if (sock < 0)
         return -1;
@@ -87,5 +91,8 @@ error: {}
 }
 
 void close_socket(int sock) {
+    if (is_single_mode())
+        return;
+
     nn_close(sock);
 }
diff --git a/src/protocol/messages.c b/src/protocol/messages.c
index 788d66e..4c0c3f7 100644
--- a/src/protocol/messages.c
+++ b/src/protocol/messages.c
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ const char *message_names[] = {
 };
 
 void cr_send_to_runner(const criterion_protocol_msg *message) {
+    if (is_single_mode())
+        return;
+
     if (write_message(g_client_socket, message) != 1) {
         criterion_perror("Could not write the \"%s\" message down the event pipe: %s.\n",
                 message_names[message->data.which_value],