diff --git a/src/jtag/drivers/libusb_helper.c b/src/jtag/drivers/libusb_helper.c
index fbbfb4114..184882abc 100644
--- a/src/jtag/drivers/libusb_helper.c
+++ b/src/jtag/drivers/libusb_helper.c
@@ -208,6 +208,9 @@ int jtag_libusb_open(const uint16_t vids[], const uint16_t pids[],
 	if (serial_mismatch)
 		LOG_INFO("No device matches the serial string");
 
+	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
+		libusb_exit(jtag_libusb_context);
+
 	return retval;
 }