diff --git a/examples/sshd_direct-tcpip.c b/examples/sshd_direct-tcpip.c
index 606f999f..4d437411 100644
--- a/examples/sshd_direct-tcpip.c
+++ b/examples/sshd_direct-tcpip.c
@@ -526,6 +526,7 @@ message_callback(UNUSED_PARAM(ssh_session session),
                     SAFE_FREE(pFd);
                     SAFE_FREE(cb_chan);
                     SAFE_FREE(event_fd_data);
+                    close(socket_fd);
                     return 1;
                 }