diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/getpwent.c b/lib/libc/gen/getpwent.c
index 0cb8ed227f8..09a624785a1 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/getpwent.c
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/getpwent.c
@@ -1942,7 +1942,7 @@ docompat:
 			break;
 	}
 fin:
-	if (!stayopen && st->db != NULL) {
+	if (st->db != NULL && !stayopen) {
 		(void)st->db->close(st->db);
 		st->db = NULL;
 	}