diff --git a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/thumbDV.c b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/thumbDV.c
index 6faf84d..dc4337c 100644
--- a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/thumbDV.c
+++ b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/thumbDV.c
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ int thumbDV_openSerial(const char * tty_name)
 
     if (tcsetattr(fd, TCSANOW, &tty) != 0) {
         output("ThumbDV: error %d from tcsetattr\n", errno);
+        close(fd);
         return -1;
     }