diff --git a/src/wokwi_client/transport.py b/src/wokwi_client/transport.py
index 763a387..98ce2fe 100644
--- a/src/wokwi_client/transport.py
+++ b/src/wokwi_client/transport.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def __init__(self, token: str, url: str = TRANSPORT_DEFAULT_WS_URL):
         self._recv_task: Optional[asyncio.Task[None]] = None
         self._closed = False
 
-    async def connect(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    async def connect(self, throw_error: bool = True) -> dict[str, Any]:
         self._ws = await websockets.connect(
             self._url,
             extra_headers={
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ async def connect(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         hello_msg = cast(HelloMessage, hello)
         self._closed = False
         # Start background message processor
-        self._recv_task = asyncio.create_task(self._background_recv())
+        self._recv_task = asyncio.create_task(self._background_recv(throw_error))
         return {"version": hello_msg["appVersion"]}
 
     async def close(self) -> None:
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ async def request(self, command: str, params: dict[str, Any]) -> ResponseMessage
         finally:
             del self._response_futures[msg_id]
 
-    async def _background_recv(self) -> None:
+    async def _background_recv(self, throw_error: bool = True) -> None:
         try:
             while not self._closed and self._ws is not None:
                 msg: IncomingMessage = await self._recv()
@@ -127,6 +127,16 @@ async def _background_recv(self) -> None:
         except Exception as e:
             warnings.warn(f"Background recv error: {e}", RuntimeWarning)
 
+            if throw_error:
+                self._closed = True
+                # Cancel all pending response futures
+                for future in self._response_futures.values():
+                    if not future.done():
+                        future.set_exception(e)
+                if self._ws:
+                    await self._ws.close()
+                raise
+
     async def _recv(self) -> IncomingMessage:
         if self._ws is None:
             raise WokwiError("Not connected")