diff --git a/scd/apdu.c b/scd/apdu.c
index 053a2b12a..fa3a89c34 100644
--- a/scd/apdu.c
+++ b/scd/apdu.c
@@ -1166,6 +1166,7 @@ pcsc_thread (void *arg)
         scd_kick_the_loop ();
     }
 
+  pcsc_release_context (context);
   npth_mutex_unlock (&reader_table_lock);
   return NULL;
 }