diff --git a/blosc/win32/pthread.c b/blosc/win32/pthread.c
index 0ef5bd6fd..5f38194c3 100644
--- a/blosc/win32/pthread.c
+++ b/blosc/win32/pthread.c
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ int win32_pthread_join(pthread_t *thread, void **value_ptr)
 		case WAIT_OBJECT_0:
 			if (value_ptr)
 				*value_ptr = thread->arg;
+			CloseHandle(thread->handle);
 			return 0;
 		case WAIT_ABANDONED:
+			CloseHandle(thread->handle);
 			return EINVAL;
 		default:
 			return GetLastError();