diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
index 6708e202..47d02fea 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ int SYMEXPORT alpm_release(alpm_handle_t *myhandle)
 
 	CHECK_HANDLE(myhandle, return -1);
 
+	if (myhandle->trans != NULL && alpm_trans_release(myhandle)) {
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* close local database */
 	db = myhandle->db_local;
 	if(db) {