diff --git a/src/apps/terminal/Shell.cpp b/src/apps/terminal/Shell.cpp
index ebfe8f270d..9fdd2de818 100644
--- a/src/apps/terminal/Shell.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/terminal/Shell.cpp
@@ -615,11 +615,12 @@ Shell::_Spawn(int row, int col, const ShellParameters& parameters)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (done <= 0)
+	if (done <= 0) {
+		close(master);
 		return B_ERROR;
+	}
 
 	fFd = master;
 
 	return B_OK;
 }
-