diff --git a/django/core/handlers/modpython.py b/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
index 37499c6f06..cb65170c1a 100644
--- a/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
+++ b/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
@@ -141,13 +141,12 @@ class ModPythonHandler(BaseHandler):
         try:
             request = ModPythonRequest(req)
             response = self.get_response(req.uri, request)
+            # Apply response middleware
+            for middleware_method in self._response_middleware:
+                response = middleware_method(request, response)
         finally:
             db.db.close()
 
-        # Apply response middleware
-        for middleware_method in self._response_middleware:
-            response = middleware_method(request, response)
-
         # Convert our custom HttpResponse object back into the mod_python req.
         populate_apache_request(response, req)
         return 0 # mod_python.apache.OK