diff --git a/src/add-ons/input_server/devices/mouse/MouseInputDevice.cpp b/src/add-ons/input_server/devices/mouse/MouseInputDevice.cpp
index 3d59a66860..34551742f6 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/input_server/devices/mouse/MouseInputDevice.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/input_server/devices/mouse/MouseInputDevice.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,9 @@ MouseDevice::Start()
 	if (status < B_OK) {
 		LOG_ERR("%s: can't spawn/resume watching thread: %s\n",
 			fDeviceRef.name, strerror(status));
-		close(fDevice);
+		if (fDevice >= B_OK)
+			close(fDevice);
+
 		return status;
 	}