diff --git a/pimd/pim_pim.c b/pimd/pim_pim.c
index 41c26a8883..cd8a29031f 100644
--- a/pimd/pim_pim.c
+++ b/pimd/pim_pim.c
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ static int pim_sock_open(struct in_addr ifaddr, int ifindex)
     return -1;
 
   if (pim_socket_join(fd, qpim_all_pim_routers_addr, ifaddr, ifindex)) {
+    close(fd);
     return -2;
   }