diff --git a/openair3/NAS/COMMON/UTIL/socket.c b/openair3/NAS/COMMON/UTIL/socket.c
index 8ec3227e20..25876c3e6f 100644
--- a/openair3/NAS/COMMON/UTIL/socket.c
+++ b/openair3/NAS/COMMON/UTIL/socket.c
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ void* socket_udp_open(int type, const char* host, const char* port)
     sid->type = type;
     sid->port = atoi (port);
     sid->fd = sfd;
+  } else {
+    close (sfd);
   }
 
   return sid;