--- a/services/sync/modules/engines.js
+++ b/services/sync/modules/engines.js
@@ -1089,16 +1089,19 @@ SyncEngine.prototype = {
               return;
             case SyncEngine.kRecoveryStrategy.ignore:
               self._log.debug("Ignoring record " + item.id +
                               " with bad HMAC: already handled.");
               return;
           }
         }
       } catch (ex) {
+        if (Async.isShutdownException(ex)) {
+          throw ex;
+        }
         self._log.warn("Error decrypting record", ex);
         self._noteApplyFailure();
         failed.push(item.id);
         return;
       }
 
       let shouldApply;
       try {