diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/tsdb/tsdbFSet2.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/tsdb/tsdbFSet2.c
index fc78fec2ea..fc681f9753 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/tsdb/tsdbFSet2.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/tsdb/tsdbFSet2.c
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ static int32_t tsdbSttLvlInitRef(STsdb *pTsdb, const SSttLvl *lvl1, SSttLvl **lv
     }
     code = TARRAY2_APPEND(lvl[0]->fobjArr, fobj1);
     if (code) {
+      if (tsdbTFileObjUnref(fobj1) != 0) {
+        tsdbError("failed to unref file obj, fobj:%p", fobj1);
+      }
       tsdbSttLvlClear(lvl);
       return code;
     }