diff --git a/utils.go b/utils.go
index 159f0d5a..fe52b1bb 100644
--- a/utils.go
+++ b/utils.go
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ func runProcess(container libcontainer.Container, config *specs.Process, listenF
 	}
 
 	if err := container.Start(process); err != nil {
+		tty.Close()
 		return -1, err
 	}
 
@@ -315,6 +316,7 @@ func runProcess(container libcontainer.Container, config *specs.Process, listenF
 		if err := createPidFile(pidFile, process); err != nil {
 			process.Signal(syscall.SIGKILL)
 			process.Wait()
+			tty.Close()
 			return -1, err
 		}
 	}