diff --git a/src/unix/loop.c b/src/unix/loop.c
index c2a03d77..e5b28895 100644
--- a/src/unix/loop.c
+++ b/src/unix/loop.c
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ fail_rwlock_init:
 fail_signal_init:
   uv__platform_loop_delete(loop);
 
+  uv__free(loop->watchers);
+  loop->nwatchers = 0;
   return err;
 }