diff --git a/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysqlshellbackupengine.go b/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysqlshellbackupengine.go
index 65950aced5a..8c347a008f6 100644
--- a/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysqlshellbackupengine.go
+++ b/go/vt/mysqlctl/mysqlshellbackupengine.go
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ func (be *MySQLShellBackupEngine) ExecuteBackup(ctx context.Context, params Back
 
 	// Get exit status.
 	if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
+		pipeWriter.Close() // make sure we close the writer so the goroutines above will complete.
 		return BackupUnusable, vterrors.Wrap(err, mysqlShellBackupEngineName+" failed")
 	}