diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/org/evomaster/core/problem/httpws/auth/AuthUtils.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/org/evomaster/core/problem/httpws/auth/AuthUtils.kt
index 2329252381..9ab65c621e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/org/evomaster/core/problem/httpws/auth/AuthUtils.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/org/evomaster/core/problem/httpws/auth/AuthUtils.kt
@@ -188,10 +188,12 @@ object AuthUtils {
                 val location = response.getHeaderString("location")
                 if (location != null && (location.contains("error", true) || location.contains("login", true))) {
                     log.warn("Login request failed with ${response.status} redirection toward $location")
+                    response.close()
                     return null
                 }
             } else {
                 log.warn("Login request failed with status ${response.status}")
+                response.close()
                 return null
             }
         }