diff --git a/lib/hostip.c b/lib/hostip.c
index 5f2a46e7a00cae6742f95a709bc5c47d7c16b65e..3e5429b702085ebe496f334779cbbb0bd3a19175 100644
--- a/lib/hostip.c
+++ b/lib/hostip.c
@@ -446,6 +446,8 @@ CURLcode Curl_is_resolved(struct connectdata *conn,
   *dns = NULL;
 
   if(conn->async.done) {
+    /* we're done, kill the ares handle */
+    ares_destroy(data->state.areschannel);
     if(!conn->async.dns)
       return CURLE_COULDNT_RESOLVE_HOST;
     *dns = conn->async.dns;