diff --git a/test/test-spawn.c b/test/test-spawn.c
index 61107344..48b8d260 100644
--- a/test/test-spawn.c
+++ b/test/test-spawn.c
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(spawn_fails) {
   r = uv_spawn(uv_default_loop(), &process, &options);
   ASSERT(r == UV_ENOENT || r == UV_EACCES);
   ASSERT(0 == uv_is_active((uv_handle_t*) &process));
+  uv_close((uv_handle_t*) &process, NULL);
   ASSERT(0 == uv_run(uv_default_loop(), UV_RUN_DEFAULT));
 
   MAKE_VALGRIND_HAPPY();