diff --git a/pubsub/service.go b/pubsub/service.go
index d9a00021eb0..0c24be25a69 100644
--- a/pubsub/service.go
+++ b/pubsub/service.go
@@ -62,6 +62,14 @@ func (r *defaultRetryer) Retry(err error) (pause time.Duration, shouldRetry bool
 			return r.bo.Pause(), true
 		}
 		return 0, false
+	case codes.Unknown:
+		// Retry GOAWAY, see https://github.com/googleapis/google-cloud-go/issues/4257.
+		isGoaway := strings.Contains(s.Message(), "error reading from server: EOF") &&
+			strings.Contains(s.Message(), "received prior goaway")
+		if isGoaway {
+			return r.bo.Pause(), true
+		}
+		return 0, false
 	default:
 		return 0, false
 	}