diff --git a/src/aof.c b/src/aof.c
index c6fbbb82..862b5e13 100644
--- a/src/aof.c
+++ b/src/aof.c
@@ -1295,6 +1295,7 @@ int rewriteAppendOnlyFileBackground(void) {
             serverLog(LL_WARNING,
                 "Can't rewrite append only file in background: fork: %s",
                 strerror(errno));
+            aofClosePipes();
             return C_ERR;
         }
         serverLog(LL_NOTICE,