diff --git a/mysql-test/r/merge.result b/mysql-test/r/merge.result
index 479645744ec..3a6cd4d3f5a 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/merge.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/merge.result
@@ -2502,4 +2502,34 @@ c1
 DROP TRIGGER t2_au;
 DROP FUNCTION f1;
 DROP TABLE tm1, t1, t2, t3, t4, t5;
+#
+# Bug47098 assert in MDL_context::destroy on HANDLER
+#          <damaged merge table> OPEN
+#
+# Test that merge tables are closed correctly when opened using 
+# HANDLER ... OPEN.
+# The general case.
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS t1, t2, t3;
+# Connection con1.
+CREATE TABLE t1 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t2 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t3 (c1 int) ENGINE = MERGE UNION (t1,t2);
+START TRANSACTION;
+HANDLER t3 OPEN;
+ERROR HY000: Table storage engine for 't3' doesn't have this option
+DROP TABLE t1, t2, t3;
+# Connection default.
+# Disconnecting con1, all mdl_tickets must have been released.
+# The bug-specific case.
+# Connection con1.
+CREATE TABLE t1 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t2 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t3 (c1 int) ENGINE = MERGE UNION (t1,t2);
+DROP TABLE t2;
+START TRANSACTION;
+HANDLER t3 OPEN;
+ERROR HY000: Unable to open underlying table which is differently defined or of non-MyISAM type or doesn't exist
+DROP TABLE t1, t3;
+# Connection default.
+# Disconnecting con1, all mdl_tickets must have been released.
 End of 6.0 tests
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/merge.test b/mysql-test/t/merge.test
index f7ce6ba700b..2738f79247f 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/merge.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/merge.test
@@ -1985,6 +1985,43 @@ DROP TRIGGER t2_au;
 DROP FUNCTION f1;
 DROP TABLE tm1, t1, t2, t3, t4, t5;
 
-
+--echo #
+--echo # Bug47098 assert in MDL_context::destroy on HANDLER
+--echo #          <damaged merge table> OPEN
+--echo #
+--echo # Test that merge tables are closed correctly when opened using 
+--echo # HANDLER ... OPEN.
+--echo # The general case.
+--disable_warnings
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS t1, t2, t3;
+--enable_warnings
+--echo # Connection con1.
+connect (con1,localhost,root,,);
+CREATE TABLE t1 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t2 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t3 (c1 int) ENGINE = MERGE UNION (t1,t2);
+START TRANSACTION;
+--error ER_ILLEGAL_HA
+HANDLER t3 OPEN;
+DROP TABLE t1, t2, t3;
+--echo # Connection default.
+connection default;
+--echo # Disconnecting con1, all mdl_tickets must have been released.
+disconnect con1;
+--echo # The bug-specific case.
+--echo # Connection con1.
+connect (con1,localhost,root,,);
+CREATE TABLE t1 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t2 (c1 int);
+CREATE TABLE t3 (c1 int) ENGINE = MERGE UNION (t1,t2);
+DROP TABLE t2;
+START TRANSACTION;
+--error ER_WRONG_MRG_TABLE
+HANDLER t3 OPEN;
+DROP TABLE t1, t3;
+--echo # Connection default.
+connection default;
+--echo # Disconnecting con1, all mdl_tickets must have been released.
+disconnect con1;
 
 --echo End of 6.0 tests
diff --git a/sql/sql_handler.cc b/sql/sql_handler.cc
index 94f6b248e45..cf178342b51 100644
--- a/sql/sql_handler.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_handler.cc
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ bool mysql_ha_open(THD *thd, TABLE_LIST *tables, bool reopen)
         can close a single table only.
       */
       close_thread_tables(thd);
+      thd->mdl_context.release_all_locks();
       my_error(ER_ILLEGAL_HA, MYF(0), hash_tables->alias);
       error= TRUE;
     }