diff --git a/dict/dawg_cache.cpp b/dict/dawg_cache.cpp
index 4eda23a757..2d21b01809 100644
--- a/dict/dawg_cache.cpp
+++ b/dict/dawg_cache.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ Dawg *DawgLoader::Load() {
   if (!data_loader.Init(data_file_name_, dawg_debug_level_)) {
     return NULL;
   }
-  if (!data_loader.SeekToStart(tessdata_dawg_type_)) return NULL;
+  if (!data_loader.SeekToStart(tessdata_dawg_type_)) {
+    data_loader.End();
+    return NULL;
+  }
   FILE *fp = data_loader.GetDataFilePtr();
   DawgType dawg_type;
   PermuterType perm_type;