diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 6081e719c5..d6ab95006c 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1842,6 +1842,7 @@ static bool gdb_accept(void)
     /* set short latency */
     if (socket_set_nodelay(fd)) {
         perror("setsockopt");
+        close(fd);
         return false;
     }