diff --git a/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c b/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
index 715b392..7338c83 100644
--- a/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
+++ b/c_src/sqlite3_nif.c
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ exqlite_open(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
 
     rc = sqlite3_open_v2((char*)bin.data, &db, flags, NULL);
     if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
+        sqlite3_close_v2(db);
         return make_error_tuple(env, am_database_open_failed);
     }