diff --git a/src/obidmscolumn.c b/src/obidmscolumn.c
index 91a42c1..abbe285 100644
--- a/src/obidmscolumn.c
+++ b/src/obidmscolumn.c
@@ -1995,6 +1995,14 @@ OBIDMS_column_header_p obi_column_get_header_from_name(OBIDMS_p dms, const char*
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	// Close column directory
+	if (obi_close_column_directory(column_directory) < 0)
+	{
+		obi_set_errno(OBICOL_UNKNOWN_ERROR);
+		obidebug(1, "\nError closing a column directory when reading a column header");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	return header;
 }