diff --git a/src/lib/tls/tortls_nss.c b/src/lib/tls/tortls_nss.c
index e1e6cc501e..462cd5b0ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/tls/tortls_nss.c
+++ b/src/lib/tls/tortls_nss.c
@@ -452,6 +452,7 @@ tor_tls_release_socket(tor_tls_t *tls)
 
   PRFileDesc *tcp = PR_GetIdentitiesLayer(tls->ssl, PR_NSPR_IO_LAYER);
   if (BUG(! tcp)) {
+    tor_close_socket(sock);
     return;
   }