diff --git a/src/corelib/ipc/qsharedmemory_posix.cpp b/src/corelib/ipc/qsharedmemory_posix.cpp
index 0f53c88964..744a6d67a4 100644
--- a/src/corelib/ipc/qsharedmemory_posix.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/ipc/qsharedmemory_posix.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ bool QSharedMemoryPosix::handle(QSharedMemoryPrivate *self)
 
 bool QSharedMemoryPosix::cleanHandle(QSharedMemoryPrivate *)
 {
-    qt_safe_close(hand);
+    if (hand != -1)
+        qt_safe_close(hand);
     hand = -1;
 
     return true;