diff --git a/src/v/http/client.cc b/src/v/http/client.cc
index b8b442167c844..3cf055e19dc3f 100644
--- a/src/v/http/client.cc
+++ b/src/v/http/client.cc
@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@ ss::future<reconnect_result_t> client::get_connected(
 }
 
 ss::future<> client::stop() {
+    if (_stopped) {
+        // Prevent double call to stop() as constructs such as with_client()
+        // will unconditionally call stop(), while exception handlers in this
+        // file may also call stop()
+        co_return;
+    }
+    _stopped = true;
     co_await _connect_gate.close();
     // Can safely stop base_transport
     co_return co_await base_transport::stop();
diff --git a/src/v/http/client.h b/src/v/http/client.h
index d5595f5e5334a..4cbd053b9e42b 100644
--- a/src/v/http/client.h
+++ b/src/v/http/client.h
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ class client : protected net::base_transport {
     /// Throw exception if _as is aborted
     void check() const;
 
+    bool _stopped{false};
     ss::gate _connect_gate;
     const ss::abort_source* _as;
     ss::shared_ptr<http::client_probe> _probe;