diff --git a/bytes_test.go b/bytes_test.go
index 57de86a..27fb471 100644
--- a/bytes_test.go
+++ b/bytes_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/lanrat/extsort"
 )
@@ -233,3 +234,35 @@ func TestRandom1M(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDeadLockContextCancel(t *testing.T) {
+	inputChan := make(chan extsort.SortType, 2)
+	config := extsort.DefaultConfig()
+	config.ChunkSize = 2
+	config.SortedChanBuffSize = 2
+	// for simplicity, set ChanBuffSize to zero. the deadlock can happen with any value.
+	// see https://github.com/lanrat/extsort/issues/7 for details.
+	config.ChanBuffSize = 0
+	lessFunc := func(a, b extsort.SortType) bool {
+		time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond) // emulate long operation
+		return false
+	}
+	sort, _, _ := extsort.New(inputChan, fromBytesForTest, lessFunc, config)
+	ctx, cf := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cf()
+	waitCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		defer close(waitCh)
+		sort.Sort(ctx)
+	}()
+	inputChan <- val{Key: 1, Order: 1}
+	inputChan <- val{Key: 2, Order: 2}
+	close(inputChan)
+	// cancel the context. the sort.Sort should now be waiting inside lessFunc.
+	cf()
+	select {
+	case <- waitCh:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("deadlock")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/sort_sorttype.go b/sort_sorttype.go
index 45f56aa..3a8e498 100644
--- a/sort_sorttype.go
+++ b/sort_sorttype.go
@@ -176,7 +176,11 @@ func (s *SortTypeSorter) sortChunks() error {
 				// sort
 				sort.Sort(b)
 				// save
-				s.saveChunkChan <- b
+				select {
+				case s.saveChunkChan <- b:
+				case <-s.buildSortCtx.Done():
+					return s.buildSortCtx.Err()
+				}
 			} else {
 				return nil
 			}