diff --git a/lib/mongo/cursor.rb b/lib/mongo/cursor.rb
index 086ac1f..cf642fd 100644
--- a/lib/mongo/cursor.rb
+++ b/lib/mongo/cursor.rb
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ module Mongo
 
     def checkout_socket_from_connection
       @checkin_connection = true
-      if @read_preference == :primary
+      if @command || @read_preference == :primary
         @connection.checkout_writer
       else
         @read_pool = @connection.read_pool