diff --git a/c_src/esqlite3_nif.c b/c_src/esqlite3_nif.c
index 171e59a..c0b7806 100644
--- a/c_src/esqlite3_nif.c
+++ b/c_src/esqlite3_nif.c
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@ do_prepare(ErlNifEnv *env, esqlite_connection *conn, const ERL_NIF_TERM arg)
 
     rc = sqlite3_prepare_v2(conn->db, (char *) bin.data, bin.size, &(stmt->statement), &tail);
     if(rc != SQLITE_OK) {
+        enif_release_resource(stmt);
         return make_sqlite3_error_tuple(env, rc, conn->db);
     }