diff --git a/pkg/ssh/ssh.go b/pkg/ssh/ssh.go
index 5b6cb4e1509..22e4aabed64 100644
--- a/pkg/ssh/ssh.go
+++ b/pkg/ssh/ssh.go
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ func runSSHCommand(dialer sshDialer, cmd, user, host string, signer ssh.Signer,
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", "", 0, fmt.Errorf("error getting SSH client to %s@%s: '%v'", user, host, err)
 	}
+	defer client.Close()
 	session, err := client.NewSession()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", "", 0, fmt.Errorf("error creating session to %s@%s: '%v'", user, host, err)